Dream11 Fantasy NPB: BayStars at Giants

Yokohama DeNA BayStars (31-28-3) at Yomiuri Giants (35-21-3)

Tuesday, September 1st, 5:00 AM EDT

Projected Starters

Yomiuri Giants: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (9-0, 1.61 ERA)

Yokohama DeNA BayStars: RHP Taiga Kamichatani (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

Game Preview

The Giants have been the best team in the NPB by a wide margin this season, and they currently sit at the top of the Central League standings by a sizable advantage over their rivals on Tuesday, the BayStars. The Giants also enter this matchup in sizzling form after winning four of their last five games, while the BayStars are "only" 3-2 in their last five games. The pitching matchup should also put the Giants on the edge, as they will send Tomoyuki Sugano, who has a sizzling 1.61 ERA this season, against Taiga Kamichatani, who has posted a 5.40 ERA in the current campaign.

Injuries

Tyler Austin - Out - Concussion

8/13 2:20 AM IST - Austin revealed that he suffered a concussion after colliding with an outfield wall in a July 31 game, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. The BayStars deactivated Austin on Aug. 5 with a neck injury, but receiving clearance from the concussion may be a greater concern at this point. Austin is eligible to rejoin the BayStars' roster Saturday, but manager Alex Ramirez said he doesn't think the 28-year-old will be ready to go by that point. Over 22 games on the season, Austin has slashed .320/.393/.627 across 84 plate appearances.

Seiji Kobayashi - Out - Forearm

6/23 2:14 PM IST - Kobayashi will miss 3-to-4 weeks with a fractured left forearm, according to sponichi.co.jp. Kobayashi started the Giants' first and third games behind the plate, but he will not take the field again until sometime in July. Ginjiro Sumitani and Takumi Oshiro are in line to share the catching duties for the Giants until Kobayashi returns.

CC Mercedes - Out - Elbow

8/20 2:37 AM IST - Mercedes was removed in the top of the first inning of his start in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Tigers with an apparent elbow injury, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. The Giants will send Mercedes in for further observation before determining whether he's fit to make his next start or if he'll need to be shut down due to the injury. Over nine appearances on the season, Mercedes has gone 2-4 with a 3.66 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.

Spencer Patton - Day-To-Day - Back

8/21 11:45 PM IST - Patton is day-to-day after experiencing lower-back stiffness during his appearance Tuesday against the Carp, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. Patton entered the contest in the eighth inning for the BayStars but departed with the injury after issuing a seven-pitch walk. The back issue doesn't look like it will cost the reliever significant time.

Kentaro Taira - Out - Undisclosed

8/12 7:09 AM IST - Taira (3-2) tossed seven scoreless innings Sunday as he earned the win against the Swallows. He allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six. Taira was charged with a loss after allowing two runs in his last start, but he returned to the win column with a dominant performance against the Swallows. Taira carries a 1.72 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 46.1 innings this season.

Kota Yamashita - Out - Hand

7/9 4:36 AM IST - Yamashita, who has been sidelined all season with a broken right hand, was able to complete some on-field activities Wednesday, Sponichi.co.jp reports. The 19-year-old outfielder/first baseman only has 13 career NPB plate appearances to his name, but manager Tatsunori Hara suggested Yamashita could be a candidate for an everyday role before he sustained the injury shortly before Opening Day. Yamashita was at least fortunate that the injury was to his non-throwing hand, so he may have a shorter recovery timeline than one normally associated with a fracture. He was able to hit off the tee and play catch Wednesday, so expect him to ramp up his activities in the weeks to come.

Yomiuri Giants Expected Lineup

1. Naoki Yoshikawa

2. Hayato Sakamoto

3. Yoshihiro Maru

4. Kazuma Okamoto

5. Yoshiyuki Kamei

6. Hiroyuki Nakajima

7. Gerardo Parra

8. Ginjiro Sumitani

9. Kazuto Taguchi

Yokohama DeNA BayStars Expected Lineup

1. Takayuki Kajitani

2. Tomo Otosaka

3. Neftali Soto

4. Keita Sano

5. Jose Lopez

6. Toshiro Miyazaki

7. Hikaru Itoh

8. Yamato Maeda

9. Shota Imanaga

Top Picks From Each Team

Kazuma Okamoto, Giants: Okamoto has been one of the most productive players in the NPB this season, and he has racked up 18 home runs with 50 RBI in the current campaign. To make things even better, the star hitter has posted a .902 OPS in 255 plate appearances.

Keita Sano, BayStars: Sano is the best offensive threat in a BayStars lineup that is full with offensive talent, and the numbers back him up. Sano has 10 homers with 41 RBI and, even though his power numbers are not stellar by any means, he has a .339 average with a .929 OPS in 265 plate appearances.

Captaincy Options

1. Kazuma Okamoto
2. Keita Sano
3. Tomoyuki Sugano
4. Yoshihiro Maru

Dream11 Team

P – Tomoyuki Sugano

C – Hiroki Minei

IF – Kazuma Okamoto (C)

IF – Keita Sano (VC)

IF – Zelous Wheeler

IF – Akihiro Wakabayashi

OF – Yoshihiro Maru

OF – Takayuki Kajitani

OF – Seiya Matsubara