This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy CPBL series.
Chinatrust Brothers (12-13) at Rakuten Monkeys (16-6)
Thursday, May 21, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Huang En-Sih (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs LHP Justin Nicolino (1-1, 6.48 ERA)
Game Preview
Thursday's lone CPBL game features the top two teams in the standings, though the Brothers already trail the league-leading Monkeys by 5.5 games. The Brothers will hand 24-year-old righty Huang En-Sih the tough task of shutting down the Monkeys' loaded offense. Huang didn't look good in his 68.2-inning debut last season, struggling to a 7.47 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP, but he's been far better through his first four starts this year, recording a 4.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Whether that ERA remains low after he faces the Monkeys for the first time this season remains to be seen. Opposing him will be veteran American lefty Justin Nicolino. His 6.48 ERA through his first three CPBL starts doesn't look good, though it's barely worse than the league-average 6.32 mark. He faced the Brothers his last time out and struggled significantly, getting driven from the game after giving up eight runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings.
Brothers' Last Lineup
3B Wang Wei-Chen
2B Wu Tung-Jung
CF Chang Chih-Hao
LF Chan Tzu-Chien
1B Su Wei Ta
DH Chou Szu-Chi
RF Chen Tzu-Hao
C Huang Chun-Sheng
SS Chiang Kun-Yu
Monkeys' Last Lineup
CF Chen Chen-Wei
SS Lin Chi-Ping
RF Lan Yin-Lun
DH Chen Chun-Hsiu
3B Lin Li
LF Chu Yu-Hsien
2B Kuo Yen-Wen
C Liao Chien-Fu
1B Liang Chia-Jung
Top Picks
Chinatrust Brothers (12-13) at Rakuten Monkeys (16-6)
Thursday, May 21, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Huang En-Sih (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs LHP Justin Nicolino (1-1, 6.48 ERA)
Game Preview
Thursday's lone CPBL game features the top two teams in the standings, though the Brothers already trail the league-leading Monkeys by 5.5 games. The Brothers will hand 24-year-old righty Huang En-Sih the tough task of shutting down the Monkeys' loaded offense. Huang didn't look good in his 68.2-inning debut last season, struggling to a 7.47 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP, but he's been far better through his first four starts this year, recording a 4.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Whether that ERA remains low after he faces the Monkeys for the first time this season remains to be seen. Opposing him will be veteran American lefty Justin Nicolino. His 6.48 ERA through his first three CPBL starts doesn't look good, though it's barely worse than the league-average 6.32 mark. He faced the Brothers his last time out and struggled significantly, getting driven from the game after giving up eight runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings.
Brothers' Last Lineup
3B Wang Wei-Chen
2B Wu Tung-Jung
CF Chang Chih-Hao
LF Chan Tzu-Chien
1B Su Wei Ta
DH Chou Szu-Chi
RF Chen Tzu-Hao
C Huang Chun-Sheng
SS Chiang Kun-Yu
Monkeys' Last Lineup
CF Chen Chen-Wei
SS Lin Chi-Ping
RF Lan Yin-Lun
DH Chen Chun-Hsiu
3B Lin Li
LF Chu Yu-Hsien
2B Kuo Yen-Wen
C Liao Chien-Fu
1B Liang Chia-Jung
Top Picks
Justin Nicolino, Monkeys: Nicolino has been worse than Huang En-Sih this season, but the "never start a pitcher against the Monkeys" rule applies here, as the Monkeys have scored an incredible 8.7 runs per game this season, well above the Brothers' 6.7 runs per game mark. Nicolino's track record, which includes 50 appearances at the MLB level, should matter more than his three largely poor starts this campaign.
Lin Li, Monkeys: Lin is having an incredible season, with all three elements of his .411/.461/.656 slash line representing career highs. He's scored 27 runs and driven in 27 more through 21 games this season.
Chu Yu-Hsien, Monkeys: Chu makes for a strong alternative captain choice, posting a similarly incredible .400/.447/.812 slash line. While he trails Lin slightly in runs (20) and RBI (25), his 11 home runs lead the league by a four-homer margin.
Wu Tung-Jung, Brothers: Wu's cheap, nine-credit price enables you to fit some of the more expensive bats in this contest into your lineup. He's hitting an excellent .391 this season and has settled into the second spot in the Brothers' order, giving him a good chance to be a part of whatever rallies his team manages in this game.
Captaincy Options
1. Lin Li
2. Chu Yu-Hsien
Dream11 Team
C Liao Chien-Fu
IF Lin Li (C)
IF Chu Yu-Hsien (VC)
IF Kyo Yen-Wen
IF Lin Chih-Ping
IF Wu Tung-Jung
OF Chan Tzu-Hsien
OF Chen Tzu-Hao
