Are you not entertained? With a five-game slate featuring 57 total runs scored and at least five separate teams scoring seven runs and a dominant pitching performance, this slate had a bit of everything. Maybe there have been a few fewer home runs than the American KBO DFS player would typically expect for that many runs scored, but the KBO approaches the game a bit differently than MLB.
While it’s not the station to station small ball and defense style of baseball that is played in the Japanese leagues, KBO teams do tend to rely on base hits to keep runs churning more than they depend on the home run. While bat flips are all the rage for everyone talking KBO, the league simply does not hit all that many dingers. Over full slate last night, we count five. This could be a byproduct of another thing that is standing out significantly about the KBO, there is not much at the bottom of these orders.
Looking through the day’s box scores it’s quite clear that all of the talent and the lion’s share of the production comes from the top five or six hitters in every lineup. This isn’t to say the others are unplayable, but it might be worth reconsidering how you’re setting exposure caps and dialing down the seven, eight and nine hitters unless someone really stands out. Building stacks that focus toward the bottom of the lineup seems like a more untenable approach here than in the MLB.
At some point after writing yesterday’s column I realized that I’ve been referring to the slate action as taking place “last night” and the upcoming games as “tonight.” This isn’t planned but is probably going to keep happening. Let’s face it, days don’t matter right now, and when you’re keeping half your brain on the other side of the planet 13 hours ahead, you tend to lose track. So just go with me on that one if it continues.
Speaking of edge, Awesemo’s projections, rankings, and ownership will be FREE until Friday, and Josh Engleman is breaking down your pitching options for the day.
Once again, I’m going to look game by game, calling out a hitter or two from each team, and giving some top stacking options as we go. Pricing and popularity will be considered, more so as trends begin to emerge over the coming weeks. The numbers included with Suggested Stack are the projected lineup positions I would target for stacking that team, but do not restrict yourself exclusively to those spots. For example, if it says Wyverns 3-6, it means the third through sixth hitters in the projected lineup. If it says 1-2-3-5, it means those guys. If it means a two-man, it will say so. I’m also going to start trying to include positions more, hopefully it helps speed up the process of finding guys as you build lineups.
With lock still hours away, official lineups have not been released, so be sure to double-check status before you plug players into your lineup.
KBO DFS Picks: Game Breakdown for DraftKings + FanDuel
Hanwha Eagles at Kiwoom Heroes – 9.5-run total (4.07/5.65) – Suggested Stack: Heroes 1-4
The Eagles come into town fresh off an 8-run victory to swipe the first series of the season from SK last night. The Eagles put up a 6-run sixth inning after chasing the SK starter, the bulk of the rally coming with two outs. Hanwha did a great job of taking advantage of a few walks and a wild pitch in the inning, driving in runners with a series of base hits. They take on Seung-ho Lee tonight, with the young lefty making his first start of the year after a very average rookie campaign that can best be described as completed. The currently projected Hanwha lineup has a lot of lefties in it for a game against a left-handed pitcher, so that might be worth keeping an eye on before lock. Projected second hitter in the lineup, outfielder Jin-Ho Jung ($7/$2,300), isn’t a great option standing on his own, but he’s better than this price is giving him credit for. In 2017 and 2018 when given a bit more opportunity he was able to get on base at a reasonable clip, swipe a few bags, and score some runs. At this price he could be a productive member of an Eagles stack who helps make other things work. If he’s not hitting at the top of the lineup, just cross him off.
Kiwoom lost to the lowly Kia Tigers last night when their bullpen blew a big late lead. The offense put up 5 runs on a Taylor Motter ($7/$4,800) home run and a solid performance by catcher Dong-won Park. Motter makes for a reasonable option on FanDuel at that price, though his low spot in the order sometimes makes him difficult to get to with other bats. Last night’s recommendation, outfielder Jung-hoo Lee ($13/$4,900), should be in the top portion of the order again and is an important part of the Kiwoom stack. With his ability to drive the ball in the gap, Lee will be a part of things on most nights that the Heroes offense is working. At 39, fellow outfielder Taek-Keun Lee ($10/$2,700) is nearly old enough to be his 21-year-old teammate’s father, and his best days appear to be behind him. However, if he’s hitting in the heart of the Heroes lineup at these prices, he’s very much in play in stacks.
Kia Tigers at Samsung Lions – 8.5-run total (4.83/3.86) – Suggested Stack: Kia 2-5
Kia hits the road for the first time this season, coming into Daegu at 1-2. The Tigers are yet to really hit their stride overall this season, despite last night’s comeback victory on a couple late homers off the Kiwoom bullpen. Opposing pitcher Chae-heung Choi isn’t a major strikeout threat and appears to have problems keeping people off the base paths, so we might see some opportunity here for Kia. Outfield Slugger Ji-wan Na ($7/$3,100) is underpriced on both sites. Assuming he’s hitting in the middle of the order, this Na offers a lot of home run potential, having hit more than 25 for three years running prior to missing the bulk of 2019.
The 0-3 Samsung Lions must be happy to be rid of the NC Dinos, but they’re still stuck in neutral with an offense that only managed to scratch out 5 runs over the first three games. They ran into some good pitching from NC and tonight they draw former New York Met Drew Gagnon. The fact that he can only manage to crack the middle of a rotation in the KBO speaks for Gagnon’s mediocre stuff. If infielder Sang-su Kim ($12/$4,600) is leading off or near the top of the order, he should offer the on-base skills we’re looking for from a stack catalyst and can contribute by swiping a bag as well.
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KT Wiz at Doosan Bears – 9-run total (3.94/5.27) – Suggested Stack: Wiz 3-6
KT has been a frustrating team to roster and root for so far. Despite some good-looking matchups on paper, they’ve only put up a handful of runs each game and haven’t really given us what we need for the prices they were carrying. It doesn’t look like much has changed, with KT’s best bets carrying big tickets on both sites. This could be another good opportunity for their right-handed pop to get things rolling. Han-Joon Yoo ($13/$4,200) could be just the right-handed slugger we’re looking for, offering solid run production and a KBO-strong ISO throughout his career.
Everything was working for the Bears last night against LG, dropping 9 runs and 14 hits on the Twins’ helpless pitching staff. Doosan is one of the league’s strongest looking teams early on, there’s a lot to like about their offense. With the second-highest run total on the slate once again tonight, as one of three teams projected for more than 5 runs, Doosan is Awesemo’s second-ranked stack on FanDuel and third on DraftKings. Getting to some shares of outfielder Kun-woo Park ($14/$5,100) would be beneficial for your Doosan stacks tonight. The veteran outfielder has demonstrated a strong ability to both get on base and drive in runs, posting impressive career OPS numbers, and hitting between 25 and 40 doubles each of the last four seasons.
SK Wyverns at Lotte Giants – 9.5-run total (5.15/4.56) – Suggested Stack: Wyverns Two-Man: Han and Choi
The Wyverns travel to Busan to take on Nolan Kelly’s favorite new sports team, the Lotte Giants (aka Busan Seagulls). KT enters the night as Awesemo’s top rated stack on Draftkings in the stacking tool, but they come up third and look to be pretty over-owned on FanDuel at the moment. Dong-min Han from last night’s column make a good option again tonight, I expect to see him pop up in a lot of two-man stacks, along with his pricier teammates from the middle of the order: Jeong Choi ($16/$5,400) and Jamie Romak ($15/$6,000), despite the big prices on DK.
The Giants draw Seung-won Moon, a capable but unspectacular righty tonight, as they look to continue their impressive start to the season. Aging infielder Dae-Ho Lee ($12/$4,200) lost a lot of his home run pop last season, but still drove in a lot of runs, and provides a strong option at a reasonable price in the middle of the Giants order here.
LG Twins at NC Dinos – 8-run total – (4.32/3.86) – Suggested Stack: Dinos 1-4
The Twins come into Changwon as the favorites tonight, which may surprise a lot of the Dinos new fans. Having a few games on ESPN and showing off some pop does wonders for your popularity. The Twins have former Oriole Tyler Wilson going tonight, which seems to be at least part of the reason the Twins are slightly favored. By which I mean there’s still not all that much to love about the Twins lineup. 41-year-old Yong-taik Park ($8/$2,700) is the KBO’s career hits leader, with 2,441 coming into tonight’s action. With this much clear talent, he’s always going to be an option at that sort of price, as long as he’s hitting in the top half of the order. Apparently, he goes by Y.T. and I just want to take a moment to beg the sites not to change his name to that. I just got all this stuff working again…
The NC Dinos, the darlings of ESPN, the guys that everyone immediately wants to bring to their MLB teams, and home underdogs? That seems a bit weird if you’ve been watching, but the numbers seem to back it up. Awesemo currently has NC ranked next to last in the top stacks tool. They’re not drawing very much ownership at all which, with their still-reasonable pricing, makes them a potentially sneaky option if you’re looking to go against the grain. Min-woo Park ($12/$4,200) leading off makes for a great option if you’re looking to get the Dinos in. Stacking him up with the guys we know have some pop in the middle of the order should build a nice little runs engine. Look for Aaron Altherr if he’s back in the lineup as well.
Favorite Stack: Kiwoom
HR Call: Han-Joon Yoo (KT)
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