Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Giants at Angels

San Francisco Giants (8-15) at Los Angeles Angels (7-15)

Monday, August 17th, 9:40 PM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Tyler Anderson (0-1, 3.63 ERA) vs RHP Griffin Canning (0-3, 4.42 ERA)

Game Preview

Neither the Angels nor the Giants have looked like playoff-candidate teams this season, as both have struggled to find consistency and are yet to reach the double-digit mark. The expanded playoff format could boost their chances of reaching the postseason but, at 7-15 and 8-15, respectively, time is running out for both teams to get the job done. The pitching matchup for this game doesn't look very enticing, either. Tyler Anderson stands out as the better alternative due to his better all-around numbers, but all signs indicate this could be a matchup where offenses dictate the tone of the contest instead of pitching.

Injuries

Los Angeles Angels

Justin Anderson - 60-Day IL - Elbow

7/23 9:59 AM EST - The Angels placed Anderson (elbow) on the 45-day injured list Thursday. Anderson's move to the IL was merely a formality after he was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow last week that required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The power reliever won't be ready to contribute for the Angels until late in the second half of the 2021 campaign in a best-case scenario.

Cam Bedrosian - 10-Day IL - Thigh

8/15 2:07 PM EST - Bedrosian (thigh) played catch before Friday's game, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Bedrosian went on the injured list in early August with a right adductor strain after appearing in four games at the start of the campaign. While Angels manager Joe Maddon said Friday that Bedrosian remains without a set timeline for his return, the reliever's ability to begin a throwing program indicates that he is showing signs of progress.

Jason Castro - Day-To-Day - Neck

8/16 11:48 AM EST - Castro (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers. Castro will sit for the third day in a row while he contends with a sore neck, allowing Max Stassi to make another start behind the plate. The Angels have brought up Anthony Bemboom from their alternate training site to provide another option behind the plate in the short term, so Castro could be a candidate for the injured list if he fails to show much improvement heading into Monday's series opener with the Giants.

Taylor Cole - Out - Shoulder

8/13 4:45 PM EST - Cole announced Thursday via his personal Instagram account that he had shoulder surgery Wednesday. Cole has been dealing with a shoulder issue since late July. After attempting to rehab through through the injury, surgery ultimately became the best option for the right-hander. Cole was already a long shot to see substantial major-league work this year, but Wednesday's surgery will almost certainly end Cole's season entirely.

Parker Markel - Out - Undisclosed

7/23 4:16 PM EST - Markel (undisclosed) is not included on the Angels' 30-man roster. Markel missed all of summer camp while dealing with an undisclosed issue, so his exclusion from the Opening Day roster is not surprising. The right-hander was far from a lock to make break camp with the squad in any case after allowing 19 earned runs in 22 innings last season as a member of the Mariners and Pirates.

Dillon Peters - 10-Day IL - Oblique

7/26 6:39 PM EST - Peters (oblique) reported to the Angels' alternate training site Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. After missing all of camp with an oblique issue, Peters reported to the team's alternate training site to rehab as he attempts to get back into game shape. The southpaw is expected to join the major-league bullpen at some point, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to play in regular season games. Peters made 17 appearances (12 starts) for the Angels last season, recording a 5.38 ERA and 55:26 K:BB over 72 innings.

Andrelton Simmons - 10-Day IL - Ankle

8/14 4:43 PM EST - Simmons (ankle) is unlikely to return during the Angels' weekend series against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Although there was hope that Simmons would be able to return over the weekend, manager Joe Maddon revealed Friday that he's still sore. As a result, he'll likely be sidelined for at least three more games. However, the 30-year-old has been taking live batting practice at the Angels' alternate training site and could return relatively soon if his soreness subsides.

Jose Soriano - Out - Elbow

2/13 10:45 AM EST - Soriano underwent Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the entire 2020 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports. This is a tough break for Soriano, who compiled a 2.55 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 77.2 innings with Low-A Burlington in 2019. The 21-year-old righty will now begin a long recovery process that will likely keep him sidelined into the 2021 season.

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.

Sam Coonrod - 10-Day IL - Lat

8/14 5:07 PM EST - Coonrod (lat) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. Coonrod was able to resume throwing Friday, but a timetable for his return still isn't known. The right-hander will be re-evaluated Saturday, after which a better idea of his status could come into focus. Coonrod has been dealing with a right lat strain that has kept him sidelined since the end of July.

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

8/14 3:54 PM EST - Moronta (shoulder) has resumed throwing, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Moronta is still working his way back from labrum surgery, a procedure he underwent back in September of 2019. It remains unclear when exactly the Giants expect him to return.

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

8/12 1:20 PM EST - Samardzija (shoulder) will be reevaluated when the Giants return from their road trip, which ends Wednesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports. Samardzija is still without a timetable for his return, but the outlook doesn't appear to be particularly good. Following an MRI on Saturday, he's been diagnosed with both inflammation and an impingement in his right rotator cuff. Trevor Cahill has stepped into the rotation in his absence.

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.

Angels Expected Lineup

SP - Griffin Canning

1. David Fletcher

2. Mike Trout

3. Anthony Rendon

4. Shohei Ohtani

5. Albert Pujols

6. Justin Upton

7. Jo Adell

8. Tommy La Stella

9. Max Stassi

Giants Expected Lineup

SP - Tyler Anderson

1. Mike Yastrzemski

2. Alex Dickerson

3. Brandon Belt

4. Evan Longoria

5. Donovan Solano

6. Pablo Sandoval

7. Brandon Crawford

8. Austin Slater

9. Tyler Heineman

Top Picks From Each Team

Mike Trout, Angels: Trout has hit safely in five of the Angels' last six games, launching four homers during that stretch. Since returning from an absence in late July and early August due to the birth of his child, Trout has done nothing but mash opposing pitchers. He is hitting .306 with eight homers, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored, and a 1.148 OPS in that stretch.

Mike Yastrzemski, Giants: Yastrzemski is riding a four-game hitting streak and continues to be the Giants' most reliable offensive threat on a daily basis. The outfielder is hitting .245 with a .922 OPS, three homers, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored and eight extra-base hits in 15 games this month.

Captaincy Options

1. Mike Trout
2. Mike Yastrzemski
3. Anthony Rendon
4. Austin Slater

Dream11 Team

P – Tyler Anderson

C – Tyler Heineman

IF – Wilmer Flores

IF – Anthony Rendon

IF – David Fletcher

OF – Austin Slater

OF – Mike Trout (C)

OF – Mike Yastrzemski (VC)

OF – Justin Upton