This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy Baseball series.
Toronto Blue Jays (9-11) at Baltimore Orioles (12-11)
Wednesday, August 19th, 1:05 PM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 6.00 ERA) vs LHP Tommy Milone (1-2, 4.00 ERA)
Game Preview
Neither the Blue Jays nor the Orioles were expected to fight for a playoff spot in the American League this season, but their records do not back that up – Baltimore currently sits one game over the .500 threshold and look as a potential AL Wild Card team, while the Blue Jays are just two games under the .500 mark but having played just 20 contests. The Canada-based franchise has a good shot as any team to make it to the playoffs in October. The pitching matchup here favors the Blue Jays, as Tanner Roark is a more experienced, more reliable alternative then left-hander Tommy Milone.
Injuries
Baltimore Orioles
Hunter Harvey - 10-Day IL - Elbow
8/18 3:31 PM EST - Harvey (elbow) is progressing well and is expected to return from the injured list by the end of the month, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. Injuries have been the story throughout Harvey's career, and that's as true as ever this year, as he's been out with elbow soreness since the start of the regular season. When eventually healthy, he'll have a shot at pitching high-leverage innings for the Orioles, though the team will want to be very careful with him given his history.
Austin Hays - 10-Day IL - Ribs
8/15 12:15 PM EST - Hays
Toronto Blue Jays (9-11) at Baltimore Orioles (12-11)
Wednesday, August 19th, 1:05 PM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 6.00 ERA) vs LHP Tommy Milone (1-2, 4.00 ERA)
Game Preview
Neither the Blue Jays nor the Orioles were expected to fight for a playoff spot in the American League this season, but their records do not back that up – Baltimore currently sits one game over the .500 threshold and look as a potential AL Wild Card team, while the Blue Jays are just two games under the .500 mark but having played just 20 contests. The Canada-based franchise has a good shot as any team to make it to the playoffs in October. The pitching matchup here favors the Blue Jays, as Tanner Roark is a more experienced, more reliable alternative then left-hander Tommy Milone.
Injuries
Baltimore Orioles
Hunter Harvey - 10-Day IL - Elbow
8/18 3:31 PM EST - Harvey (elbow) is progressing well and is expected to return from the injured list by the end of the month, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. Injuries have been the story throughout Harvey's career, and that's as true as ever this year, as he's been out with elbow soreness since the start of the regular season. When eventually healthy, he'll have a shot at pitching high-leverage innings for the Orioles, though the team will want to be very careful with him given his history.
Austin Hays - 10-Day IL - Ribs
8/15 12:15 PM EST - Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a non-displaced rib fracture. It is unclear if this is an injury that Hays has been dealing with for a certain period of time or if it something that has recently developed as he was in the starting lineup for the Orioles on Friday. There is currently no timetable for his return.
Jose Iglesias - 10-Day IL - Quadriceps
8/18 1:21 PM EST - Iglesias was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sore left quadriceps Tuesday. Iglesias last played Saturday, so it's possible he could return as soon as next Wednesday, though the Orioles haven't given a specific timeline for his return. Andrew Velasquez starts at shortstop in his absence Tuesday.
Trey Mancini - 60-Day IL - Abdomen
6/28 1:21 PM EST - Mancini (cancer) was placed on the 45-day injured list Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. The 28-year-old announced in April he was undergoing six months of treatment for his battle with colon cancer, so it was only a matter of time before the team removed him from the 40-man roster. Mancini isn't expected to see the field in 2020 as a result, though he's expressed optimism about making a full recovery and resuming his career next season.
Richie Martin - 60-Day IL - Wrist
7/16 12:54 PM EST - Martin underwent surgery Wednesday to repair his fractured right wrist, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Martin is expected to miss 2-to-3 months following surgery, effectively putting an end to his 2020 season. He appeared in 120 games during his rookie season in 2019, slashing .208/.260/.322 in 309 plate appearances.
Josh Rogers - Out - Elbow
10/30 12:18 PM EST - Rogers (elbow) cleared waivers Wednesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Rogers underwent Tommy John surgery in early July and is unlikely to pitch until late in 2020 if at all. He allowed 14 earned runs in 14.1 big-league innings prior to the injury.
Kohl Stewart - Out - Opt Out
7/31 1:22 PM EST - Stewart is opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding COVID-19. The 25-year-old was in the mix to start Sunday's game versus the Rays, but he'll instead step away from the team due to the potential for serious complications from coronavirus as a Type 1 diabetic. Stewart was removed from the 60-man player pool and 40-man roster and was replaced by Tom Eshelman.
Stevie Wilkerson - Out - Finger
7/26 9:26 AM EST - Wilkerson (finger) could be sidelined for the rest of the season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. The Orioles haven't provided a specific recovery timeline, but it appears the 28-year-old may be sidelined for the next two-plus months after fracturing his left ring finger last week. Wilkerson had a .669 OPS in 119 games last season and was in competition for a spot on the 30-man roster prior to the injury.
Toronto Blue Jays
Bo Bichette - 10-Day IL - Knee
8/17 7:10 PM EST - Bichette was diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain of lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. A second opinion confirmed that Bichette is dealing with a knee sprain. Fortunately, the injury is being considered a minor injury with no long-term impact, according to Davidi. The shortstop remains without a firm timetable for a return, though the team is currently laying out a rehab plan.
Yennsy Diaz - 60-Day IL - Lat
3/16 10:10 AM EST - Diaz was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday due to a lat strain, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports. Joe Panik was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster in a corresponding move. The severity of Diaz's injury and his expected return date remain to be seen.
Derek Fisher - 10-Day IL - Quadriceps
8/14 3:36 PM EST - Fisher (quadriceps) ran the bases Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Fisher has been dealing with a quadriceps issue since late July. He appears to be making progress towards a return, but it's not yet clear when he'll be activated. He's expected to need at least a few more days, as he's still yet to take live at-bats.
Ken Giles - 10-Day IL - Forearm
8/15 6:11 PM EST - Giles (forearm) threw again Saturday and continues to feel good, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. Reports remain positive regarding Giles, who hasn't pitched in nearly three weeks due to a forearm strain but who seems to have avoided the worst-case scenario. He's still just playing catch and will be brought along carefully, but he's expected to throw off a mound within 10 days.
Teoscar Hernandez - Day-To-Day - Back
8/18 3:11 PM EST - Hernandez was held out of Tuesday's lineup versus the Orioles due to back tightness, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports. The 27-year-old apparently isn't completely unavailable for Tuesday's game, but the team is likely to give him the full night off if possible. It doesn't appear to be a serious concern, so Hernandez should be considered day-to-day. Cavan Biggio will slide out to right field while Brandon Drury starts at the keystone in Baltimore.
Elvis Luciano - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
7/2 8:59 AM EST - The Blue Jays placed Luciano on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified issue. Luciano was one of four Blue Jays placed on the IL, with no explanation given for any of the transactions. The move is retroactive to June 30, so if deemed healthy, Luciano would be eligible to return from the IL before the Blue Jays begin their season July 23 or 24. After being selected by the Blue Jays in the Rule 5 draft in December 2018, Luciano worked in mostly low-leverage spots out of the big-league bullpen as a rookie, posting a 5.35 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 27:24 K:BB in 33.2 innings.
Tim Mayza - Out - Elbow
11/20 3:24 PM EST - Mayza (elbow) was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. The move helps clear space on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster for the team to protect Thomas Hatch and Santiago Espinal ahead of the Rule 5 draft. Mayza is expected to miss the entirety of the 2020 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Eric Pardinho - Out - Elbow
2/11 4:40 PM EST - Pardinho underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2020 season, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Pardinho was promoted from rookie ball to Low-A in 2019 and delivered a 2.41 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB over 33.2 innings (seven starts), but he won't be able to pitch this season. The 19-year-old will have to focus on his recovery and look to come back in 2021.
Rowdy Tellez - Day-To-Day - Head
8/18 1:40 PM EST - Tellez (head) will not start Tuesday's game against Baltimore. Tellez entered the concussion protocol after getting hit in the head at first base Monday. Randal Grichuk will serve as the designated hitter Tuesday, with Anthony Alford taking Grichuk's usual spot in center field.
Trent Thornton - 10-Day IL - Elbow
8/18 3:43 PM EST - Thornton (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. Thornton has already served the required 10 days on the injured list with elbow inflammation, and it appears as though he may not miss much more time. Per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, he could be activated ahead of Thursday's doubleheader against the Phillies.
Breyvic Valera - Out - Undisclosed
7/21 4:38 PM EST - Valera is unable to report to camp for unspecified reasons and was placed on the restricted list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. The 28-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Padres in early July, but he hasn't appeared in camp with his new team. Valera has now changed organizations seven times -- including a previous stint with the Blue Jays -- and had a .234/.308/.383 slash line in 52 big-league plate appearances in 2019.
Orioles Expected Lineup
SP - Tommy Milone
3. Renato Nunez
4. Rio Ruiz
5. Dwight Smith
6. Chance Sisco
Blue Jays Expected Lineup
SP - Tanner Roark
1. Cavan Biggio
5. Danny Jansen
Top Picks From Each Team
Anthony Santander, Orioles: Santander went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. With that two-homer performance, Santander extended his hitting streak to 12 games -- he's batted .364 (20-for-55) with seven homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored in that span. Few players are hitting as well as the 25-year-old outfielder right now.
Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays: Grichuk has been swinging a hot bat lately, and he kept it up with a two-run blast Tuesday. Grichuk is 12-for-29 (.414) with four homers, 11 RBI and eight runs scored in his last seven games.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Tanner Roark
C – Chance Sisco
IF – Hanser Alberto
IF – Cavan Biggio
IF – Travis Shaw
IF – Vladimir Guerrero
OF – Randal Grichuk (C)
OF – Anthony Santander (VC)
OF – Lourdes Gurriel
