This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Hanwha Eagles (7-10) at NC Dinos (13-3)
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jang Shi-hwan (1-2, 7.20 ERA) vs RHP Mike Wright (2-0, 1.69 ERA)
Game Preview
This game features a battle between the league's two best pitching staffs (in terms of runs allowed per game), but the gap in offense between the Dinos' third-ranked lineup and the Eagles' ninth-ranked unit accounts for the seven-spot gap between the two in the standings. The league-leading Dinos should be favored again in this one given the difference in track record between the two starting pitchers. Eagles righty Jang Shi-hwan has really struggled to start this season, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP through his first three starts. He wasn't good last year either, recording a 4.95 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP over 27 starts. Opposing him will be American Mike Wright. Wright's 6.00 ERA in 258 MLB innings is hardly an inspiring mark, but the mere fact that he's thrown that many innings at the highest level makes him one of the stronger starters in the KBO. It's certainly looked that way through his first three starts overseas, as he's allowed a total of just three runs while striking out 16 batters in 16 innings.
Injuries
Ha Ju-seok, Eagles - 10-Day IL - Thigh
May 18 - Hanwha announced Monday that Ha will be sidelined for four weeks with right thigh muscle pain, Young-rock Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The club also announced that Oh
Hanwha Eagles (7-10) at NC Dinos (13-3)
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jang Shi-hwan (1-2, 7.20 ERA) vs RHP Mike Wright (2-0, 1.69 ERA)
Game Preview
This game features a battle between the league's two best pitching staffs (in terms of runs allowed per game), but the gap in offense between the Dinos' third-ranked lineup and the Eagles' ninth-ranked unit accounts for the seven-spot gap between the two in the standings. The league-leading Dinos should be favored again in this one given the difference in track record between the two starting pitchers. Eagles righty Jang Shi-hwan has really struggled to start this season, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP through his first three starts. He wasn't good last year either, recording a 4.95 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP over 27 starts. Opposing him will be American Mike Wright. Wright's 6.00 ERA in 258 MLB innings is hardly an inspiring mark, but the mere fact that he's thrown that many innings at the highest level makes him one of the stronger starters in the KBO. It's certainly looked that way through his first three starts overseas, as he's allowed a total of just three runs while striking out 16 batters in 16 innings.
Injuries
Ha Ju-seok, Eagles - 10-Day IL - Thigh
May 18 - Hanwha announced Monday that Ha will be sidelined for four weeks with right thigh muscle pain, Young-rock Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The club also announced that Oh Sun-jin would require about four weeks of rehab after he and Ha were both diagnosed with thigh injuries following Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants. Ha's loss is a significant one for the Eagles, as he slashed .333/.349/.405 with seven RBI through 12 games. With Oh's injury further thinning the Eagles' depth in the infield, No Si-hwan looks to be the next man up to slot in as the club's everyday shortstop.
Oh Sun-jin, Eagles - 10-Day IL - Thigh
May 18 - Hanwha announced Monday that Oh would be sidelined for four weeks due to a right thigh injury, Young-rock Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Oh's absence from the lineup in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants was believed to be a routine off day, but the Eagles were apparently evaluating him for an injury that he picked up the previous day. Doctors determined Oh was dealing with damage to the medial muscle of his right thigh, an injury that will keep him on the shelf through at least mid-June. Teammate Ha Ju-seok picked up the same injury in Sunday's game and will also be sidelined for at least four weeks, leaving the Eagles supremely thin in the infield. Oh has been the Eagles' top hitter so far during the young season, slashing .346/.357/.538 with a home run and five RBI over his 28 plate appearances.
Mo Chang-min, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
May 12 - Mo will miss the next two weeks as a result of his shoulder injury, KBO Analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Mo sat out NC's last game Sunday after injuring his shoulder in the club's previous game Friday, and it turns out he will miss extended time beyond that. Lee Won-jae, as well as another player or two, should see more action in Mo's absence.
Yang Eui-ji Yang, Dinos - Day-To-Day - Neck
May 23 - Yang left Saturday's game during the seventh inning due to a neck issue following a collision with a baserunner, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Fortunately for the Dinos, there are no plans for Yang to go for a medical checkup and he was spotted icing the area in the dugout, so it sounds as though the issue isn't particularly serious. However, it wouldn't be surprising if he's given at least Sunday off to recuperate, especially with an off day ahead Monday.
Eagles Expected Lineup
P Jang Shi-hwan
1. Jung Jin-ho
2. Jung Eun-won
3. Jared Hoying
4. Lee Sung-yul
5. Kim Moon-ho
6. Song Kwang-min
7. Choi Jae-hoon
8. Noh Si-hwan
9. Lee Yong-kyu
Dinos Expected Lineup
1. Park Min-woo
2. Lee Myung-Gi
3. Na Sung-bum
4. Yang Eui-ji
5. Park Suk-min
6. No Jin-hyuk
7. Kang Jin-sung
9. Kwon Hee-dong
Top Picks
Mike Wright, Dinos: You'll have to pay up to get Wright, who costs 5.5 credits more than Jang Shi-hwan, but it's hard to argue against that difference in price. He has a much stronger track record than Jang and gets to face the weak Eagles lineup.
Park Min-woo, Dinos: It's hard to build a Dinos-based lineup without their leadoff hitter, Park, whose eight-credit price tag is far too low considering his talent level and performance. The second baseman is hitting .379 with 13 runs scored this season and owns a career .329 batting average.
Jung Eun-won, Eagles: There aren't many Eagles hitters who make a strong case for a captain spot should you choose to build an Eagles-based lineup. 20-year-old Jung could be the best bet, as he's hit .288 this season and bats second in the order.
Na Sung-bum, Dinos: As usual, Na makes for a strong captain choice with a shaky right-hander on the mound for the opposition. The veteran slugger is hitting a solid .277 with four homers on the season, though there's room for his batting average to rise as the season progresses, as he owns a career mark of .315.
Captaincy Options
1. Mike Wright
2. Na Sung-bum
3. Park Min-woo
Dream11 Team
P Mike Wright (C)
C Choi Jae-hoon
IF Park Suk-min
IF Jung Eun-won
IF Park Min-woo
OF Na Sung-bum (VC)
OF Lee Myung-gi
OF Kim Moon-ho
OF Kang Jin-sung
