Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Dodgers at Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers (22-8) at San Francisco Giants (14-16)

Tuesday, August 25th, 9:45 PM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Julio Urias (2-0, 2.74 ERA) vs RHP Johnny Cueto (2-0, 4.35 ERA)

Game Preview

The Giants and the Dodgers have one of the oldest rivalries in the National League and they will play another chapter of it Tuesday -- the Giants will attempt to move one step closer to the .500 mark while Dodgers will try to maintain the best record in the National League, as they're the only team that's yet to lose 10 games in 2020. The pitching matchup seems to favor the Dodgers with lefty Julio Urias, who finally seems to be pitching at his best in this shortened season. The Giants will counter with Johnny Cueto, who's also experiencing a revival of sorts following a few below-average campaigns due to injuries. Cueto has a 3.62 ERA in 22 career starts against the Dodgers.

Injuries

Los Angeles Dodgers

Yadier Alvarez - Out - Shoulder

3/2 2:33 PM EST - Alvarez (shoulder) cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to minor-league camp, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Alvarez was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Brewers after being unable to get loose. He's been sent for tests on his shoulder, the results of which aren't yet known. The shoulder scare was evidently enough to dissuade teams from taking a chance on him in waivers.

Pedro Baez - 10-Day IL - Groin

8/20 3:07 PM EST - Baez was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a strained right groin. The groin injury could have something to do with the right-hander's recent struggles, as he's allowed four runs over his past 2.2 innings while experiencing a slight dip in velocity. The Dodgers have yet to offer up a return timeline for Baez, who was replaced on the active roster by Josh Sborz.

Joe Kelly - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/12 3:28 PM EST - Kelly (shoulder) won his appeal and had his suspension reduced from eight games to five games, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Kelly remains on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. While the suspension will take place once he's back on the active roster, he'll be able to return to the mound slightly sooner than expected. It's unclear when the right-hander will be healthy enough to return from the injured list. Kelly was effective as a middle reliever to begin the season, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings while posting a 5:5 K:BB over seven appearances.

Jimmy Nelson - 60-Day IL - Back

7/21 10:31 AM EST - Nelson (back) landed on the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports. The righty is set to undergo lumbar surgery, a procedure which will wipe out his 2020 season entirely. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers to add Jake McGee, who signed a major-league deal.

David Price - Out - Opt Out

7/4 1:48 PM EST - Price has elected not to play this season, he announced on his personal Twitter page Saturday. Price cited his health and his family's health as his reasons for sitting out the season during the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the highest-profile player thus far to opt out. He now won't be suiting up for his new team until the start of the 2021 season. His absence creates a hole in the Dodgers' rotation, with Dustin May looking like the most likely beneficiary.

Zach Reks - Out - Undisclosed

8/12 9:10 AM EST - Reks (undisclosed) has not yet joined the team at its alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Reks has been away from the team since July 8, though the Dodgers have yet to give a reason for the outfielder's absence. The 26-year-old was included on the 60-man roster after a strong spring in which he hit .368/.556/.684 and drew eight walks.

Edwin Rios - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

8/23 12:26 PM EST - Rios (hamstring) took batting practice and fielded groundballs Saturday, strengthening the expectation that he will be activated from the injured list when first eligible Thursday, the Associated Press reports. Rios was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 17 with a left hamstring strain, but he appears to be progressing well from the injury. The 26-year-old has been effective in limited playing time this season, slashing .276/.323/.690 with three home runs in 31 plate appearances.

Cody Thomas - Out - Undisclosed

8/12 9:15 AM EST - Thomas (undisclosed) still isn't with the Dodgers at their alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Thomas was included in the team's 60-man player pool after smashing five home runs during spring training, However, the outfielder missed most of summer camp, and the team has thus far withheld the reason for his absence.

Andrew Toles - Out - Personal

6/26 11:43 PM EST - Toles was arrested in Florida on Monday on a misdemeanor trespassing charge after he was found sleeping behind Key West International Airport and refused to leave, Gwen Filosa of the Miami Herald reports. In terms of baseball news, this incident furthers the belief that Toles is unlikely to return to the sport during the 2020 season. However, Toles' need for help clearly extends beyond baseball, and any hope of seeing him in a Dodgers uniform again should be superseded by the hope that he simply gets well. The 28-year-old has a documented history of dealing with anxiety and depression, and he essentially disappeared from baseball after leaving spring training last May to deal with a personal matter.

Justin Turner - Day-To-Day - Hamstring

8/23 1:55 PM EST - Manager Dave Roberts said he expects Turner (hamstring) to return to the lineup Tuesday against the Giants, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. Turner is sitting out Sunday's series finale in Colorado after he was hit in the hamstring by a pitch a day earlier, but his absence looks to be mostly precautionary, based on Roberts' comments. Even if the hamstring issue prevents Turner from starting at third base Tuesday, he could still be eased back into action as the Dodgers' designated hitter.

Edwin Uceta - Suspension - Not Injury Related

8/22 11:16 AM EST - Uceta broke security protocol and was suspended by the Dodgers, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Uceta had been working at the Dodgers' alternate training site, but he was recently sent home to the Dominican Republic and suspended by the team. Given travel restrictions amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it's unclear whether the right-hander will return to the team at any point in 2020. If he does, he's likely to remain with the alternate squad.

Alex Wood - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/20 5:04 PM EST - Wood (shoulder) will throw another simulated game Monday, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports. Wood tossed a three-inning sim game Tuesday, and, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, it is expected that he will be stretched to four frames during his next appearance on the mound. If all goes well Monday, the left-hander could return to the Dodgers' rotation soon thereafter.

San Francisco Giants

Tyler Beede - 60-Day IL - Elbow

6/29 12:51 PM EST - The Giants placed Beede (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports. The transaction is merely procedural, as Beede has already been ruled out for the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. His move to the 60-day IL opens up an extra spot on the 40-man roster for the Giants.

Aramis Garcia - 60-Day IL - Hip

6/22 9:36 PM EST - Garcia (hip) could be ready to return by mid-to-late August, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Garcia underwent hip surgery in February that carried a 6-to-8 month recovery timeline, and he appears to be on track in his recovery. The 27-year-old could be available for a good portion of the Giants' games once play resumes, although it's unclear how much playing time he could get with Buster Posey and Tyler Heineman in the fold. Garcia appeared in just 18 major-league games last season, hitting .143/.217/.310 with five RBI and 21 strikeouts.

Jordan Humphreys - Out - Personal

8/9 11:52 AM EST - Humphreys was placed on the restricted list Sunday. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Billy Hamilton last weekend, but he'll move to the restricted list before appearing for the team. It's unclear when Humphreys is expected to return to action.

Reyes Moronta - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

8/21 2:28 PM EST - Moronta (shoulder) is throwing bullpen sessions at the alternate training site, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The 27-year-old continues to progress as he recovers from the right labrum surgery he underwent in September 2019. It's unclear when Moronta is expected to be cleared for game action, but should be available at some point this season if he can avoid any setbacks.

Buster Posey - Out - Opt Out

7/23 2:01 PM EST - The Giants placed Posey on the restricted list July 10. The transaction is just a procedural one after Posey announced that same day that he would sit out the 2020 season, citing concerns about how playing amid a pandemic could jeopardize the health of his newborn twins. The Giants are carrying two catchers (Tyler Heineman and Rob Brantly) on the Opening Day roster, but it's unclear if either of the two will act as the clear-cut No. 1 option behind the plate.

Jeff Samardzija - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/17 3:59 PM EST - Samardzija (shoulder) will begin a throwing program Wednesday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The timetable for Samardzija's potential return remains unclear, but he's feeling better and progressing in his recovery. More clarity on his status could be revealed once he's able to resume throwing. Trevor Cahill is serving in the starting rotation while Samardzija is out.

Austin Slater - 10-Day IL - Groin

8/22 1:50 PM EST - Slater (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a mild left groin strain, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Slater left Friday's game without making it through the first inning. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Giants at the plate this season, hitting .347/.458/.653 with four home runs six RBI, and six stolen bases across 59 plate appearances. Although this is Slater's first trip to the injured list in 2020, the outfielder has already missed some time this season with a right elbow flexor strain.

Drew Smyly - 10-Day IL - Finger

8/14 3:56 PM EST - Smyly (finger) threw off flat ground Friday and will be reevaluated over the weekend, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Smyly has already served the minimum 10 days on the injured list with a strained finger, but his return doesn't appear to be imminent. A clearer timeline should emerge over the weekend.

Giants Expected Lineup

SP - Johnny Cueto

1. Mauricio Dubon

2. Donovan Solano

3. Mike Yastrzemski

4. Wilmer Flores

5. Evan Longoria

6. Brandon Belt

7. Joey Bart

8. Darin Ruf

9. Pablo Sandoval

Dodgers Expected Lineup

SP - Julio Urias

1. Max Muncy

2. Mookie Betts

3. Justin Turner

4. Cody Bellinger

5. Corey Seager

6. Joc Pederson

7. A.J. Pollock

8. Chris Taylor

9. Will Smith

Top Picks From Each Team

Mookie Betts, Dodgers: Betts has hit safely in 11 of the Dodgers' last 16 games and, even though he got off to a slow start this season, he has bounced back quickly. The star outfielder has slashed .308/.384/.754 with a 1.137 OPS, nine homers and 18 RBI in that 16-game span, a stretch where he's been one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League.

Mike Yastrzemski, Giants: Yastrzemski has been a consistent threat in the Giants' top of the order, and he has been providing value in more than just one way. He has five homers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored and a .984 OPS in 22 games this month. Those numbers are strong enough to warrant captaincy status.

Captaincy Options

1. Mookie Betts
2. Mike Yastrzemski
3. Justin Turner
4. Wilmer Flores

Dream11 Team

P – Julio Urias

C – Austin Barnes

IF – Justin Turner

IF – Wilmer Flores

IF – Corey Seager

IF – Mauricio Dubon

IF – Enrique Hernandez

OF – Mike Yastrzemski (VC)

OF – Mookie Betts (C)