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Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another KBO DFS column. Have you caught KBO fever yet? It’s only been a few days but I’ve been enjoying these games and digging in deep to research these teams and players for you!
DraftKings and FanDuel will use the same scoring system that they do for MLB, however, the roster builds are much different on FanDuel. You must roster two infielders, two outfielders, and two utility players along with a pitcher for a total of only seven players on FanDuel. DraftKings has kept its normal MLB structure with two starting pitchers and an entire eight-hitter lineup for a total of ten players. Building lineups on each site is going to be very different.
Today, I'll be providing my KBO DFS lineup picks and analysis for this five-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel that locks at 5:30 AM on Friday, May 8, 2020. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have large contests with a top prize of $20K to first. Make sure you are also following me @Grownfool on Twitter!
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KBO DFS Pitchers
Strikeout rates are much lower in KBO. An average MLB K% would be among the league leaders in KBO. The lower strikeout numbers make innings and wins much more important for KBO DFS. Most of the league leaders in innings pitched last season were foreign pitchers.
Tyler Wilson - LG Starting P ($7800 DraftKings / $22 FanDuel)
Wilson is the type of pitcher that does well in KBO. His SO/9 is low by MLB standards but league average for KBO. Last season Wilson was in the top ten among starters in WHIP, IP, and HR/9. Wilson's first start was pushed back so hopefully his innings aren't limited. He only threw 46 pitches in his exhibition game start.
Hee Kwon Yoo - Doosan Starting P ($8500 DraftKings / $26 FanDuel)
Yoo ended last season with the lowest K rate in KBO which means his value in DFS is almost solely from innings. It's a good thing then that he was among the league leaders in innings per game and was one of four pitchers last season with two complete games.
Hyeong Jun So - KT Starting P ($4000 DraftKings)
Do you like high-risk plays? Well, then you're in luck. On an underwhelming slate for pitchers, paying down for your second pitcher on DraftKings can be tempting. So is an 18-year-old rookie making his KBO debut. So only gave up one run on five hits in his exhibition start against Hanwha. Eno Sarris reported in The Athletic that So's fastball sits low 90s and touches 93. Doosan has one of the best offenses in KBO but their home park, Jamsil Stadium, is the most pitcher-friendly in the league.
Other starters worth a look for GPPs are:
- Chai Heung Choi - Samsung Starting P ($5000 DraftKings)
- Drew Gagnon - Kia Starting P ($7000 DraftKings / $21 FanDuel)
KBO Top Hitter Stacks
KBO de-juiced the ball last season and power numbers declined. Building stacks around power hitters will be the key to success in KBO DFS. The best stacks are less likely to be straight 1-4 hitters and more likely to be something less traditional like skipping over multiple hitters in the order. Don't overlook hitters batting sixth and seventh especially in top offenses.
Kiwoom Heroes
Last season, Min Jae Jang gave up 14 HRs including four multi-HR games. Kiwoom led the league in wOBA versus right-handers last season and continues to be one of the top offenses in KBO. Byungho Park, Jung Ho Lee , and Dong Won Park are middle of the order power bats. Ha Seong Kim led the team in steals last season and already has a SB and a HR this season. Keon Chong Seo leads off and has speed and doubles power. So far this season, Seo has two extra-base hits and a steal.
- Byung Ho Park - 1B ($5400 DraftKings / $14 FanDuel)
- Jung Ho Lee - OF ($4900 DraftKings / $13 FanDuel)
- Ha Seong Kim - SS ($5000 DraftKings / $15 FanDuel)
- Keon Chong Seo - 1B/2B ($3100 DraftKings / $11 FanDuel)
- Dong Won Park - C ($4200 DraftKings / $7 FanDuel)
SK Wyverns
The Wyverns are going up against Kyung Eun Noh who did not pitch in KBO last season. Noh last starts were with a winter league team in the ABL where he had a 2.28 WHIP and gave up two HR in five starts.
Jamie Romak and Jeong Choi tied for the team lead in HRs at 29. Dong Min Han is also a power threat and already has two home runs. Rounding out Wyverns power hitters are Eui Yoon Jeong and Jae Won Lee who both hit 12 HR last season. Jong Wook Ko has bat second in two out of the Wyvern's three games and is a stolen base threat.
- Jeong Choi - 3B/SS ($5400 DraftKings / $16 FanDuel)
- Jamie Romak - 1B/OF ($6000 DraftKings / $15 FanDuel)
- Eui Yoon Jeong - OF ($2600 DraftKings / $11 FanDuel)
- Dong Min Han - OF ($3900 DraftKings / $10 FanDuel)
- Jong Wook Ko - OF ($4000 DraftKings / $9 FanDuel)
Other stacks to consider:
- Kia Tigers
- Doosan Bears
Conclusion
- Starting lineups will not be released until one hour before lock. Note the start time of these contests and be prepared to stay up late or get up early. Most lineups have been close to what we expected for most teams especially the top and middle of the order.
- Go easy on these early in the season slates and have some fun with it. There's going to be a learning curve here for everyone with a new sport like this and you don't want to play more bankroll than you're comfortable with on players you've never heard of before.
- Use familiar MLB DFS strategies like stacking and picking on bad pitchers. Once we get to know these teams better and get more data on hitters and pitchers we should be able to have a better indication of who we want to target on a nightly basis.
- Good luck and have some fun! Just be thankful that baseball, in some form, is back!
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