Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Indians at White Sox

Cleveland Indians (8-7) at Chicago White Sox (8-6)

Saturday, August 8th, 2:10 PM EDT

Projected starters

RHP Zach Plesac (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs RHP Matt Foster (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Preview

In a normal season, both the White Sox and the Indians would be vying for a AL Wild Card berth behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central standings. However, with the expanded playoff format, now both teams appear likely to reach the postseason in 2020. Both teams have been performing well offensively this season, although the White Sox appear to have more consistency and currently sit fifth in the AL in scoring with 4.77 runs per game while leading the circuit in batting average as a team with a .273 mark. Meanwhile, the Indians are dead last in the AL in the average department, as they're hitting for a paltry .192 as a team. The pitching matchup here will feature two righties, as Matt Foster will get the ball for Chicago and Zach Plesac will get the nod for Cleveland. This will be a bullpen day for the White Sox, however, so Foster is not expected to pitch deep into the game.

Injuries

Cleveland Indians

Emmanuel Clase - Suspension - Suspension

6/25 11:24 AM EST - Clase's suspension will be completed if MLB plays an entire 60-game season in 2020, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Clase was initially slated to serve an 80-game suspension after testing positive for the PED Boldenone, but the suspension won't carry over to 2021 if the league plays their entire 60-game regular season. If the season gets interrupted, negotiations would likely need to reopen in order to determine a timetable for the suspension.

Tyler Naquin - 10-Day IL - Toe

7/31 4:34 PM EST - Naquin (toe) resumed sprinting and took live batting practice Friday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Naquin hasn't made his season debut as he's on the injured list with a hairline fracture in his right toe, but he's progressing in his recovery. The 29-year-old hit .288/.325/.467 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI over 89 games with Cleveland last season.

Luis Oviedo - Day-To-Day - Back

7/21 10:32 AM EST - Oviedo was placed on the 7-day injured list at Low-A Lake County with lower-back soreness. This has been a really disappointing year for Oviedo, who came into the season with a chance to break out as one of the game's top young pitching prospects, but has been unable to transfer last year's short-season success against Low-A hitters. He has a 5.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 72:40 K:BB in 87 innings.

Richard Palacios - Day-To-Day - Shoulder

4/4 11:31 AM EST - Palacios is on the 7-day IL at High-A Lynchburg recovering from shoulder surgery, MLB.com reports. He suffered a torn labrum and needed posterior labrum surgery in late March. This procedure typically carries a three-to-four month recovery period, so he will miss most of the minor-league season.

Roberto Perez - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/5 1:29 PM EST - Perez (shoulder) resumed throwing Wednesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. Perez also did some hitting after taking a week off with a strained right shoulder. The backstop is technically eligible to return this weekend, though it's unclear when he'll be ready to go. Sandy Leon and Beau Taylor should continue to handle catching duties in his absence.

Jefry Rodriguez - Out - Back

7/18 2:23 PM EST - Rodriguez was sent to the Indians' alternate training site Saturday while battling lower back pain, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. Rodriguez's back has prevented him from ramping up his workload over the last two weeks, and he'll head to the team's Lake County facility to continue his recovery ahead of the regular season. It's unclear how much time he'll miss as a result, but the move likely guarantees that he won't be part of Cleveland's bullpen to begin the season. The right-hander gave up 10 earned runs over 7.2 innings during spring training.

Lenny Torres - Out - Elbow

5/15 1:08 PM EST - Torres underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2019 season. He experienced diminished velocity in an early May outing in extended spring training, and it was quickly revealed that he would need to go under the knife to repair a torn UCL. Torres has considerable upside, but as a shorter pitcher with elite arm speed, this development is not particularly surprising. Given the timing of the surgery and Torres' minimal pro experience, he may not pitch for an affiliate until 2021.

Chicago White Sox

Tim Anderson - 10-Day IL - Groin

8/7 4:05 AM EST - Anderson (groin) will serve as the White Sox's leadoff hitter when he returns, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Manager Rick Renteria confirmed that news, even though Luis Robert has thrived atop the order. "I still consider Timmy our leadoff guy, and we'll find a way to continue to adjust the lineup a little bit," Renteria said. "I've got to talk to Tim and see how he's doing and then figure out where I'll insert him. But right now, if the question is, 'Will I insert him at the top of the lineup?' My answer to you right now is yes." Anderson was confident after a full workout Thursday and should return on schedule Aug. 11.

Aaron Bummer - Day-To-Day - Biceps

8/7 7:41 PM EST - Bummer was diagnosed with left biceps soreness following his removal from Friday's game. Bummer is set to be re-evaluated by the White Sox on Saturday, after which the team could get a better idea of the severity of the issue. The southpaw pitched 1.2 scoreless innings Friday prior to his removal, allowing one hit and two walks while failing to record a strikeout.

Jake Burger - Out - Achilles

7/14 10:42 AM EST - Burger (Achilles) will play in a local St. Louis league to get game reps in this season, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Burger hasn't gotten any game action in since 2017 due to Achilles issues. With minor-league games cancelled this season, he'll have to turn elsewhere for reps. He hasn't been included in the White Sox's 60-man player pool but will be allowed to play independent ball in order to stay sharp.

Ryan Burr - Out - Elbow

7/14 10:54 AM EST - Burr (elbow) joined the White Sox's player pool Tuesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Burr is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent in June of 2019. He should be able to pitch at some point this season, though he's yet to impress at the big-league level, posting a 5.52 ERA in 29.1 innings over parts of two seasons.

Edwin Encarnacion - Day-To-Day - Shoulder

8/7 12:03 PM EST - Encarnacion (shoulder) remains on the bench Thursday against Cleveland. Encarnacion has been sidelined since leaving Tuesday's game in Milwaukee with a sore left shoulder. He'll sit for at least one more game, though manager Rick Renteria indicated Thursday that Encarnacion should return at some point during the three-game weekend series. Zack Collins will again serve as the designated hitter in his absence.

Yasmani Grandal - Day-To-Day - Foot

8/7 3:19 PM EST - Grandal's absence from the lineup for Friday's game against Cleveland is due to an irritation in his left foot, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. The issue is evidently a minor one, as Grandal will be available off the bench and is expected to return to the lineup Saturday. James McCann starts behind the plate in his absence.

Michael Kopech - Out - Opt Out

7/22 5:55 AM EST - The White Sox placed Kopech (personal) on the restricted list July 10. The transaction was just a procedural move after Kopech confirmed earlier that day that he would opt out of the 2020 season. While at home for the next several months, Kopech will complete his rehab from his September 2018 Tommy John surgery before reporting to spring training at full health in 2021 with an eye on claiming a rotation spot.

Jimmy Lambert - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/3 3:27 PM EST - Lambert (forearm) will be reevaluated in six weeks, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Lambert was working his way back from Tommy John surgery when he suffered a forearm strain. Given that he won't even be reevaluated for another six weeks, his chances of appearing at any point this season appear quite slim, as there are already just eight weeks left in the regular season.

Reynaldo Lopez - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/4 3:50 PM EST - Lopez (shoulder) will begin a throwing program Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Lopez has been dealing with right shoulder inflammation and received treatment for several days to help his recovery. The right-hander will throw Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury, after which a better timetable for his return could come into focus.

Nick Madrigal - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/7 9:49 AM EST - Madrigal hopes to be back on the field in two weeks after landing on the injured list with a separated left shoulder Wednesday, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. The White Sox originally stated that they hoped Madrigal would be back by the end of the month, but Madrigal's own timeline appears to be a bit more aggressive. Whether that's simply a case of the very common phenomenon of a player being optimistic about his own health or a meaningful change to his prognosis remains to be seen. Danny Mendick has started the last two games at second base in his absence.

Nomar Mazara - Day-To-Day - Foot

8/7 3:21 PM EST - Mazara (foot) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Mazara is not starting Friday after leaving Thursday's game with a bruised foot, but the issue isn't a significant one as his X-rays came back negative. Adam Engel fills in for him in right field Friday.

Kade Mechals - Out - Elbow

6/11 5:50 PM EST - The White Sox have selected Mechals (elbow) with the 112th overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft. Mechals wasn't listed among MLB.com's Top 200 players nor Baseball America's Top 500, but the White Sox believe they have found a diamond in the rough. The results were there for Mechals, who posted a 2.19 ERA and 118:42 K:BB across 107 innings at Grand Canyon University. Per James Fegan of The Athletic, Mechals underwent Tommy John surgery in May, so if he signs with the Sox, he may not be ready to debut in the minors until the second half of the 2021 season.

A.J. Puckett - Out - Elbow

3/25 2:02 PM EST - Puckett posted March 13 on his personal Instagram account that he underwent Tommy John surgery. Puckett didn't pitch at all in 2018 while trying to rehab from elbow pain but ultimately opted to go under the knife this spring after failing to show significant improvement. The 2016 second-round pick has yet to pitch above the High-A level and will likely turn 25 years old by the time he's ready for competitive action, effectively taking him off the radar as a prospect.

Carlos Rodon - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/5 2:30 PM EST - Preliminary scans on Rodon's shoulder came back clean, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Rodon landed on the injured list earlier in the week after experiencing shoulder soreness during his second start of the season. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like the right-hander is dealing with anything more than soreness; according to general manager Rick Hahn, Rodon could be back with the team in a matter of a few weeks. The White Sox have not yet announced who will replace Rodon in the rotation for the time being.

Jose Ruiz - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/16 2:20 PM EST - Ruiz (undisclosed) rejoined the White Sox on Thursday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports. Ruiz was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday for an undisclosed, but he was cleared to resume work with the team Thursday. The 25-year-old will join the White Sox's taxi squad in Schaumburg ahead of the regular season. Ruiz made 40 appearances (one start) for the White Sox last season, posting a 5.63 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over 40 innings.

Hunter Schryver - Out - Elbow

2/20 11:04 AM EST - Schryver (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. The southpaw is expected to make a full recovery in 12-to-18 months, keeping him out of commission for the entire 2020 season and likely a good portion of 2021 as well. Schryver split the 2019 campaign between Triple-A Charlotte and Double-A Binghamton, turning in a 4.04 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 41 relief appearances between the two stops.

Chicago White Sox Expected Lineup

SP – Matt Foster

1. Luis Robert

2. Yoan Moncada

3. Jose Abreu

4. Yasmani Grandal

5. Edwin Encarnacion

6. Eloy Jimenez

7. Nomar Mazara

8. Leury Garcia

9. Danny Mendick

Cleveland Indians Expected Lineup

SP - Zach Plesac

1. Cesar Hernandez

2. Jose Ramirez

3. Francisco Lindor

4. Carlos Santana

5. Franmil Reyes

6. Jordan Luplow

7. Domingo Santana

8. Sandy Leon

9. Oscar Mercado

Top Picks From Each Team

Jose Abreu, White Sox: The White Sox have several top options for a captaincy berth, but Abreu might be a strong one. Even though he has hit just .167 in six previous at-bats against Zach Plesac, the Cuban slugger is bound to break out at some point against the righty. He already has two homers with eight RBI in 56 at-bats this season.

Francisco Lindor, Indians: Lindor got off to a slow start this season as he went 2-for-14 in his first three games, but he has bounced back after that and is now hitting .268 with a .333 on-base percentage and three homers in his last 45 plate appearances. He is the safest bet for offense in a struggling Indians offense.

Captaincy Options

1. Jose Abreu
2. Eloy Jimenez
3. Yoan Moncada
4. Francisco Lindor

Dream11 Team

P – Matt Foster

C – Sandy Leon

IF – Yoan Moncada

IF – Jose Abreu (C)

IF – Francisco Lindor

IF – Jose Ramirez

OF – Luis Robert

OF – Eloy Jimenez (VC)

OF – Nomar Mazara