Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Mets at Braves

New York Mets (3-6) at Atlanta Braves (6-3)

Sunday, August 2nd, 1:10 PM (ET)

Projected starters

LHP David Peterson (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs RHP Kyle Wright (0-1, 16.88 ERA)

Game Preview

The Braves started the 2020 MLB season as one of the big favorites to win the NL East, and they have responded to that label so far – they own a 6-3 record and sit at the top of the standings. The Mets might have started the season with a win, but they've struggled since then and own a 2-6 mark in their last eight contests. By looking at the starting pitchers, all signs indicate the offenses will dictate what happens here. The Braves will send top prospect Kyle Wright, who tossed two quality innings before losing command and control in his previous start. The Mets will counter with David Peterson, who is filling in for the injured Marcus Stroman but survived to a tough debut at Fenway Park. The Braves are a tougher test, though.

Injuries

Atlanta Braves

Yonder Alonso - Out - Not Injury Related

7/27 9:55 AM EST - Alonso was placed on the restricted list Monday. The reason for the move is not entirely clear. Alonso was outrighted off the 40-man roster Thursday, but it seems as though he won't be part of the team's player pool at the Braves' alternate training site.

Cole Hamels - 60-Day IL - Triceps

7/23 1:57 PM EST - Hamels (triceps) was placed on the 45-day injured list Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Not much has gone right for Hamels since he signed with the Braves; he dealt with a shoulder issue early in camp before landing on the IL last week with triceps tendinitis. Following this most recent move, the southpaw will be sidelined until at least the beginning of September. Kyle Wright and Josh Tomlin are candidates to fill in for Hamels in the rotation.

Felix Hernandez - Out - Opt Out

7/4 7:58 PM EST - Hernandez will opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding COVID-19, according to his agent, Wilfredo Polidor. The veteran right-hander was included on the team's 60-player roster pool and was competing with Sean Newcomb for a spot in the starting rotation, but he'll elect to sit out the 60-game season to help protect himself and his family, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Hernandez joins the growing list of players who have opted out, including David Price, Ryan Zimmerman, Welington Castillo and Joe Ross. Kyle Wright figures to be the next man up to compete for a rotation spot for Atlanta.

Nick Markakis - Out - Undisclosed

7/29 12:10 PM EST - Markakis (opt out) will be reinstated from the restricted list, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Markakis has reportedly changed his mind about playing during the abbreviated 2020 campaign after initially opting out. Per O'Brien, Markakis has been cleared to work out with the team, so he'll train at the team's alternative camp site until he's ready to be officially reinstated. Once he's back with the Braves, the veteran outfielder should see semi-regular at-bats between the outfield and DH spots, especially against right-handed pitchers. Across 116 games last season Markakis hit .285/.356/.420 with nine home runs.

Cristian Pache - Out - Ankle

7/15 1:12 PM EST - Pache was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right ankle sprain Wednesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Pache picked up the injury attempting to steal second base during Monday's intrasquad game. The 21-year-old is back at the team's camp in Gwinnett for the time being. While manager Brian Snitker downplayed the severity of the injury, the skipper added that Pache is "gonna need a few days."

Philip Pfeifer - 60-Day IL - Elbow

7/21 8:42 AM EST - Pfeifer was placed on the 45-day injured list Tuesday with a bone contusion in his left elbow, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports. Pfeifer didn't seem likely to fill a significant role in the Braves' bullpen this season, as he's a 28-year-old who's yet to reach the majors. He'll now be ineligible to make his debut until early September at the earliest.

Will Smith - Covid-19 - Illness

7/31 1:20 PM EST - Smith (illness) threw another bullpen session Friday and will toss a live batting practice session and participate in a simulated game soon, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Smith is building up his arm strength after missing the entirety of summer camp due to a positive coronavirus test. Smith's target return date is not yet clear, though O'Brien speculates that it could come within a week.

Jeremy Walker - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

6/26 11:36 AM EST - Walker was placed on the 45-day injured list Friday with a right shoulder impingement. The 25-year-old suffered the injury early in spring camp and was never provided an official timetable for his return, but he clearly needs more time to recover. Walker made his big-league debut in 2019 and allowed two runs over 9.1 innings, but it's unclear if he'll be able to play during the shortened 2020 season.

Jacob Webb - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

7/21 8:30 AM EST - Webb was placed on the 45-day injured list with a right shoulder strain Tuesday, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports. Webb could have played a role in Atlanta's bullpen this season, as he produced a strong 1.39 ERA in his 32.1-inning debut last year, but he'll now be sidelined for at least the majority of the campaign. It's not clear when he's expected to return, but he won't be eligible to do so until early September.

New York Mets

Brad Brach - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

7/25 11:45 AM EST - Brach confirmed Saturday that his absence from summer camp was due to COVID-19, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Brach was absent for all of camp due to previously undisclosed reasons and remains on the injured list. He did experience symptoms but said that his case was fairly mild. He'll need some time to build up his arm strength before seeing game action, and it's not yet clear when that's expected to happen.

J.T. Ginn - Out - Elbow

6/11 2:52 PM EST - The Mets have selected Ginn (elbow) with the 52nd overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft. The Dodgers were unable to meet Ginn's asking price when they selected him out of high school with the 30th overall pick in 2018, so he enrolled at Mississippi State. He logged a 3.13 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 105:19 K:BB in 86.1 innings as a freshman and was on track to go in the middle of the first round this year as a draft-eligible sophomore before needing Tommy John surgery in March. When healthy, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound righty works with a mid-90s sinking fastball and a wipeout slider, which is his best pitch. The biggest change for Ginn since his prep days is that his changeup is now a legitimate third pitch, projecting as at least an average offering with a chance to get to plus. He is athletic and projects for at least average command. While he has plus velocity, his fastball is geared more toward inducing weak contact than whiffs in the zone. However, he should still be able to hover around a strikeout per inning via his slider and improving changeup. Ginn should be ready to return to game action in the first half of the 2021 season.

Robert Gsellman - 10-Day IL - Triceps

7/29 1:13 PM EST - Gsellman (triceps) is nearing a return, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. He won't come off the injured list when eligible Thursday and has yet to throw live batting practice, but he will do so imminently. Look for him to join the Mets' bullpen in early August.

Jared Hughes - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/1 2:15 PM EST - Hughes faced hitters for the second consecutive day Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Hughes said Wednesday that he feels as though he's back to full strength after battling COVID-19 during camp, and his throwing schedule echoes that claim. If he feels good following his second consecutive throwing session Saturday, the right-hander could be activated and make his season debut in the coming days.

Walker Lockett - 10-Day IL - Back

7/20 2:40 PM EST - Lockett was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back discomfort Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. It's not clear how much time Lockett is expected to miss. His absence won't be a significant loss for the Mets, as he struggled to an 8.34 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP in 22.2 innings last season.

Jed Lowrie - 10-Day IL - Knee

7/30 1:15 PM EST - Lowrie (knee) was diagnosed with PCL laxity Thursday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. Lowrie dealt with a left knee injury during much of the offseason and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen revealed the results of his second opinion Thursday. No timetable has been set for Lowrie's return as he continues to recover from the loose ligaments in his left knee. The 36-year-old played just nine games in 2019 after being limited by various leg injuries.

Jake Marisnick - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

7/29 2:41 PM EST - Marisnick was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. The 29-year-old battled a left hamstring issue during summer camp, and it appears he never fully recovered from the injury. Marisnick has no official timeline for his return, but he'll be eligible to be activated Aug. 8. Ryan Cordell had his contract selected in a corresponding move and will provide outfield depth.

Eduardo Nunez - 10-Day IL - Knee

7/30 12:46 PM EST - Nunez (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. Nunez originally hurt his left knee while running out a play at first base over the weekend, and he was sent to the shelf after showing little improvement over the past few days. Brian Dozier was summoned from the team's satellite camp to take Nunez's place on the roster.

Rene Rivera - 10-Day IL - Elbow

7/31 3:16 PM EST - Rivera landed on the injured list with a hyperextended left elbow Friday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. Rivera's absence won't be a major one for the Mets, as he's started just once this season. Franklyn Kilome was recalled to take his place on the roster.

Marcus Stroman - 10-Day IL - Calf

7/31 1:53 PM EST - Stroman (calf) threw a four-inning live batting practice session Friday that went quite well, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports. Stroman also went through fielding drills to test his mobility as he works his way back from a left calf injury. His return timeline remains unclear, but it doesn't sound as though he'll miss too many more turns in the rotation.

Noah Syndergaard - 60-Day IL - Elbow

6/28 10:00 AM EST - Syndergaard (elbow) was placed on the 45-day injured list Sunday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports. Thor underwent Tommy John surgery in late March, but until now he remained on the 40-man roster given the shutdown and transaction freeze. Syndergaard will clearly miss the 2020 season, and he'll likely be unavailable for the start of next season as well. Offseason signees Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha are set to round out the starting rotation for the Mets.

Braves Expected Lineup

SP - Kyle Wright

1. Ronald Acuna

2. Ozzie Albies

3. Freddie Freeman

4. Marcell Ozuna

5. Austin Riley

6. Dansby Swanson

7. Adam Duvall

8. Ender Inciarte

9. Tyler Flowers

Mets Expected Lineup

SP - David Peterson

1. Brandon Nimmo

2. Jeff McNeil

3. Pete Alonso

4. Michael Conforto

5. Yoenis Cespedes

6. Robinson Cano

7. J.D. Davis

8. Wilson Ramos

9. Amed Rosario

Top Picks From Each Team

Ronald Acuna, Braves: Acuna went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Mets, bouncing off what had been a tough start to the season. He is expected to gain confidence following Saturday's effort, and he could be a good captaincy alternative against an inexperienced pitcher such as David Peterson.

Robinson Cano, Mets: Most of the Mets' offensive hopes are in the shoulders of Yoenis Cespedes and Pete Alonso, but Cano has been the team's most productive hitter so far. The veteran second baseman went 2-for-3 Saturday and is now hitting .393 with a 1.009 OPS in the season, while tallying two doubles and four RBI.

Captaincy Options

1. Ronald Acuna
2. Marcell Ozuna
3. Robinson Cano
4. Pete Alonso

Dream11 Team

P – Kyle Wright

C – Tyler Flowers

IF – Robinson Cano

IF – Pete Alonso

IF – Jeff McNeil

IF – Freddie Freeman

OF – Ronald Acuna (C)

OF – Marcell Ozuna (VC)

OF – Yoenis Cespedes