RADIO
Welcome back RotoBallers! DraftKings has rolled out a new game called "Shorter Slate" for KBO, but we will still be focusing on the entire slate tonight. The funny part is I'm basically focusing on just three games tonight. But experienced KBO DFS players know its often about just selecting the right teams from the right games.
New to KBO? 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 5:00 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Make sure you are also following me @MarkStrausberg for my KBO and other picks on Twitter! Let's dive into the pitchers and hitting stacks!
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Last week I (successfully) recommended Ki Young Im (DK $7600) and we are going back to the well on that one. I'll admit, Im is not one I had on my radar but he continues to exceed my expectations. He has double-digits DKFPs in his last six starts and seems to improve nearly every game. His ERA so far this month is 1.56, bringing his seasonal ERA down to 2.82. His WHIP is an even nicer 1.12 on the season. He also sports the the league's eight best K/BB ratio (6.80) despite having pitched twice as many innings as any of the pitchers above him.
In addition to his strong season so far, tonight's matchup against Samsung could easily be tougher. Samsung has the fourth lowest HR totals and own the third worst team OPS and team batting average in the league. He's not the most expensive option on FanDuel and he is wonderfully under-priced on DraftKings. I'm afraid how popular he might be tonight. However, I'm guessing Casey Kelly draws the highest ownership tonight, keeping Im's ownership levels reasonable. At Im's price however, there's a ton to like!
One thing I don't like about Im is I'm not sure how much run support he gets tonight. I also like the pitcher toeing the rubber on the other side of this matchup, Tae In Won ($7700). I directed you his direction last week as a sneaky play and he made me look smart. I want to do it again, but I'm not so sure we can call him a sneaky play any more. He hasn't allowed a run in three of his last four starts and he's been the victim of more than two earned runs only once more than I have. His WHIP (1.30) is not as pretty as Im's, but his 2.30 ERA certainly is. I like both Im and Won tonight, but unfortunately they both can't get the W!
Another pitcher who might have a tough time tonight getting the W is Warwick Saupold ($8700). Given that the Eagles have all of nine wins on the year there's not a lot of joy or offensive firepower in Hanwha. Saupold has actually been one of the few bright spots. Despite a respectable 28 strikeouts and a solid 3.64 ERA, he still has a losing record. One interesting fact about Saupold is he seems to pitch better the tougher the match-up. The Dinos and Bears are the league's two best offenses (both in runs scored and batting average) are averaging more than six runs a game. Yet Saupold has only given up three runs combined in his games against those two teams. Many will see the Dinos as Saupold's opponent tonight and run away. He could be a very sneaky SP2 on DraftKings.
Other starters to consider are:
- I'm probably fading Casey Kelly because of his matchup, but I do understand why he is the top salaried pitcher on tonight's slate.
Casey Kelly out here making batters look silly. pic.twitter.com/Ekdllslu4m
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) May 28, 2020
- Jae Hak Lee has the benefit of facing Hanwha tonight. He easily handled them last time, giving up just one run in seven innings pitched.
KBO Top Hitter Stacks
The Dinos will likely be a popular stack, but I'm going to fade them because of Saupold. The Doosan Bears have been pouring the runs on lately and also might be popular. But they are also very expensive and I'm not sure they hit their average runs per game tonight. There are three teams I find myself stacking tonight and two are in the same game. But let's start with my slightly more surprising option, the LG Twins.
LG Twins
I've been touting Eun Sung Chae ($3100) all year. And yup, I've got a ton of shares of him again tonight. I'm also assuming you know about KBO HR-leader Roberto Ramos ($5200) You should not be stacking the Twins without him.
Roberto Ramos' 2nd HR today was a 460ft BOMB off the upper deck pic.twitter.com/O0YYiiK9c2
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) June 5, 2020
He makes for a good one-off too if you have the salary for him. But if the top two catchers are a little pricey for you, Kang Nam Yoo who is hitting .314 with four homers is the obvious alternative. Two other low-cost options are 2B/3B Ho Young Son ($2500, $) and OF Yong Taik Park ($2100, $). There is chance neither plays, but if they do get them in your lineup as they are superb values. The former has only played five games but that includes each of the last four and is hitting .364. Park meanwhile hits lower in the order, but does play every game and is coming off a monster game last night. He's hitting .316 and has a strong .918 OPS his last ten games. Take the savings and spend elsewhere. Perhaps the....
SK Wyverns
If not for the Eagles, the Wyverns might be the joke of the league. However, they are taking on Young Gun Jo, who let's simply say has a much better name than he does stats. Jo has yet to start and see the sixth inning this season. I think the Wyverns can easily get to Jo and his 5.40 ERA and 1.71 WHIP. Jamie Romak ($5000) and Jeong Choi ($5400) are obvious studs to play if you're stacking Wyverns. Kang Min Kim ($3400) is an interesting all-or-nothing option for your GPP lineups. He has an 0-fer about once every three games, but when he does hit, he racks up the fantasy points. The Wyverns have a fairly easy match-up, but the more formidable stack and likely more popular is on the other side of this game.
Kiwoom Warriors
Wyverns starting pitcher righty Geon Wok Lee has a 2.91 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, but expect those numbers to rise. Kiwoom is third in the league in homers and features a number of left-handed bats including stud outfielder Jung Hoo Lee ($5400) who is hitting .371 with six homers. Shortstop Ha Seong Kim ($6000) is a righty, but has seven homers already and has a ridiculous 1.548 OPS against SK. I don't like spending for catchers typically on FanDuel, but you have to love Dong Won Park ($5700) as a Catcher option on DraftKings. Looking for one more? I constantly find myself drawn to playing Keon Chang Seo ($4500) when I stack Kiwoom. Seo is hitting an acceptable .277, but I think its his nine stolen bases that I can't ignore.
Other stacks to consider:
- I expect the Giants to be a popular stack tonight. They are facing Hyeong Jun So, who has a 6.34 ERA and has allowed five earned runs or more in nearly half of his starts.
- On the flips side of that match is the KT Wiz taking on Adrian Sampson. Sampson has not pitched as bad as his 7.78 ERA and 1.88 WHIP might indicate. I think he's a much better pitcher than that, but a 7.78 ERA is a 7.78 ERA!
Good luck in your KBO DFS lineups tonight!
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