Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Giants at Dodgers

San Francisco Giants (6-8) at Los Angeles Dodgers (9-4)

Friday, August 7th, 9:40 PM EDT

Projected starters

RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 9.31 ERA) vs LHP Julio Urias (1-0, 2.45 ERA)

Game Preview

The Giants and the Dodgers have one of the biggest, oldest rivalries in MLB, and they will write another chapter with a three-game series this weekend at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were off Thursday, while the Giants suffered a 6-4 loss against the Colorado Rockies, and the Dodgers also boast a better record compared to San Francisco's – 9-4 against 6-8. The pitching matchup should also favor the Dodgers, as they will send Julio Urias against Jeff Samardzija. Urias has gotten to a strong start this season, but he tends to pitch at his best against San Francisco. He owns a 1.16 ERA in seven career starts against the Giants.

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.

Mookie Betts - Day-To-Day - Finger

8/5 2:20 PM EST - Betts (finger) is not starting again in Wednesday's contest against the Padres. Betts entered Tuesday's game as a defensive replacement, signaling that he could be nearing a return to action. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, he's not yet cleared to bat and his status for Friday's series opener against the Giants remains up in the air. The 27-year-old is absent from the starting lineup for the third consecutive game with Joc Pederson shifting to right field as Chris Taylor starts in left field, batting sixth.

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 - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/23 3:20 PM EST - Reks (undisclosed) did not make the Dodgers' 30-man roster. Reks has been on the 10-day injured list since July 8, and the team has not provided an update on his status. It's unclear how long Reks will be out or if he'll be sent to the team's alternate training site when he recovers.

Edwin Rios - Day-To-Day - Toe

8/5 2:49 PM EST - Rios (toe) isn't starting but will be available for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Rios underwent X-rays on his big toe after being hit by a pitch Tuesday, but the results were negative. His availability off the bench Wednesday signals that he should be good to go for the Dodgers moving forward.

Cody Thomas - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/23 3:37 PM EST - Thomas (undisclosed) is not part of the Dodgers' 30-man roster. Thomas has been on the injured list since July 8 and did not make an appearance at the team's summer camp. The 25-year-old turned heads with a strong showing in Cactus League play, but he's not expected to make much of an impact at the major-league level this season.

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.

Alex Wood - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/3 3:09 PM EST - Wood (shoulder) is feeling better and will resume baseball activities Tuesday or Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. Wood has been shut down since Tuesday to allow his shoulder inflammation to subside. While a timetable for his return to game action hasn't yet been established, a better picture should come into focus once he sees how his shoulder responds to throwing. Dustin May will continue to serve as a starter in Wood's absence.

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.

Hunter Bishop - Out - Illness

7/30 10:16 AM EST - Bishop (illness) is no longer experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and has been cleared to work out in Arizona, but his test results remain inconclusive, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Until Bishop formally clears all of MLB's COVID-19-related protocols, he won't be allowed to report to the Giants' alternate training site in Sacramento. The Giants are reportedly looking at other ways to prove that Bishop is no longer infected, but in any case, the 2019 first-round pick isn't expected to make his big-league debut this season.

Trevor Cahill - Out - Finger

8/4 1:50 PM EST - Cahill (finger) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Cahill has been working his way back from a fingernail issue on his right index finger. If he feels good following his live batting practice session, the right-hander is expected to throw a simulated game late in the week. Although Drew Smyly (finger) remains sidelined, Cahill won't be ready to claim his spot in the rotation, at least not right away.

Sam Coonrod - 10-Day IL - Lat

8/4 1:41 PM EST - Coonrod (lat) remains in physical therapy and is set to be re-evaluated at the end of the week, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Coonrod landed on the 10-day injured list Friday but still hasn't resumed throwing. The team hopes that he'll be able to begin a throwing program over the weekend if his evaluation at the end of the week goes well. It's still unclear when the right-hander could return to action. Coonrod tossed 3.2 innings over four appearances to begin the season, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two.

Jarlin Garcia - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/20 4:58 PM EST - Garcia (undisclosed) will likely not be available for Opening Day, Amy Gutierrez of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Manager Gabe Kapler expects to be without Garcia or Trevor Cahill (finger) for the Giants' season opener Thursday against the Dodgers. Garcia has been absent from the team throughout training camp, but is expected to rejoin the team soon. The 27-year-old had a strong spring and set himself up to be in the discussion as one of San Francisco's top lefty options out of the bullpen. If Garcia is forced to miss extended time to begin the season, Wandy Peralta and Conner Menez are two southpaws who are likely to experience an uptick in playing time.

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.

Reyes Moronta - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

6/22 7:23 PM EST - Moronta (shoulder) is throwing fastballs off a mound and could return by late August, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports. Moronta underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder in September, but it appears as though he's on track in his recovery. The right-hander had a 2.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 56 appearances last season.

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.

Drew Smyly - 10-Day IL - Finger

8/4 1:18 PM EST - Smyly (finger) won't throw for 7-to-10 days as he continues physical therapy, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Smyly was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained left finger, and Tuesday's update indicates that he won't return after the minimum amount of time. The southpaw will be re-evaluated once the team returns to San Francisco late next week, after which a better timetable for his return could be established. Smyly made three appearances (two starts) to begin the season, allowing three runs on seven hits with an 11:4 K:BB over 8.1 innings. Tyler Anderson, Conner Menez and Trevor Cahill (finger) are candidates to fill Smyly's role in the rotation while he's sidelined.

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. Will Smith

9. Chris Taylor

Giants Expected Lineup

SP - Jeff Samardzija

1. Austin Slater

2. Wilmer Flores

3. Mike Yastrzemski

4. Evan Longoria

5. Donovan Solano

6. Brandon Belt

7. Hunter Pence

8. Darin Ruf

9. Chadwick Tromp

Top Picks From Each Team

Corey Seager, Dodgers: Seager has hit safely in all but one game this season, and he is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak with four multi-hit appearances during that stretch. The shortstop is slashing .364/.400/.697 with two doubles, three homers, five RBI and seven runs scored in 33 at-bats during that eight-game stretch.

Mike Yastrzemski, Giants: Yastrzemski is one of the most expensive San Francisco players in the slate, but he also represents the team's best alternative for sustained offense on any given night. He should be a useful addition for most lineups. He got a day off Thursday but is slashing .304/.458/.630 with three home runs, 12 runs, seven RBI and a stolen base through 13 starts.

Captaincy Options

1. Corey Seager
2. Max Muncy
3. Mike Yastrzemski
4. Julio Urias

Dream11 Team

P – Julio Urias

C – Rob Brantly

IF – Max Muncy (VC)

IF – Corey Seager (C)

IF – Justin Turner

IF – Wilmer Flores

OF – Alex Dickerson

OF – Cody Bellinger

OF – Mike Yastrzemski