Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Orioles at Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles (0-1) at Boston Red Sox (1-0)

Saturday, July 25th, 1:35 PM EDT

Projected starters

RHP Alex Cobb (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs LHP Martin Perez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Preview

Things couldn't have started better for the Red Sox in the 2020 MLB season opener, as they collected 17 hits on route to a 13-2 win in the series opener against the Orioles. Boston might not open the season as a contender in the AL East, but the fact that eight teams will make the playoffs this year might open the door for them if they get off to a good start. As for the Orioles, they looked overmatched in their debut, and that's not likely to change moving forward given how little talent there is on the roster. They might have a good chance at pulling the upset here with Alex Cobb on the mound, as he should be one of their most reliable arms despite an injury-riddled 2019 season. Meanwhile, Martin Perez will get the nod for the Red Sox after going 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 2019.

Injuries:

Baltimore Orioles

Ty Blach - Out - Elbow

7/16 12:52 PM EST - Blach underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Blach experienced elbow soreness earlier in the month and ultimately opted for surgery after receiving a pair of opinions. The southpaw is set to all of the 2020 season and likely a good chunk of the 2021 campaign while recovering.

Hunter Harvey - 10-Day IL - Elbow

7/23 7:32 AM EST - The Orioles moved Harvey (elbow) to the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Considered a potential option to close for the Orioles coming out of spring training, Harvey's bid for the job was derailed after he experienced soreness in his right elbow late in summer camp. The setback is a troubling one for a young pitcher with a history of arm injuries, so Harvey is far from a lock to make it back from the IL in the minimum 10 days. Mychal Givens now looks like the clear best option for saves in the Baltimore bullpen with Harvey on the shelf.

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.

John Means - 10-Day IL - Arm

7/24 2:24 PM EST - Mean (arm) is eligible to come off the injured list Thursday and is expected to start that day against the Marlins, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. The quick return would have the left-hander starting the seventh game of the season, so he'd only miss his first turn through the rotation while having his second outing pushed back one day. Means will likely need to complete a bullpen or live batting practice session before gaining full clearance to return.

Zach Pop - Out - Elbow

5/13 3:37 PM EST - Pop is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. This is a tough blow for Pop, who had a 0.84 ERA and 9.3 K/9 in 10.2 innings with Double-A Bowie prior to suffering the injury. He'll likely remain sidelined until summer of 2020 after undergoing the procedure.

Brady Rodgers - Day-To-Day - Biceps

2/29 7:50 AM EST - Rodgers (biceps) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. Rodgers has been dealing with soreness in his right biceps this spring that has limited his activity, but throwing a bullpen Sunday could be the first step to increasing his activity. It's unclear whether the right-hander will be ready for the beginning of the season in the minors due to the delays in his spring training regimen.

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.

Chance Sisco - Day-To-Day - Triceps

7/21 2:04 PM EST - Sisco has been battling triceps soreness but faced live pitching Tuesday and could be ready for Opening Day, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. The 25-year-old is expected to split time with Pedro Severino and Austin Wynns behind the plate this season, provided he's healthy. He hit a respectable-enough (for a catcher) .210/.333/.395 with eight homers in 198 plate appearances last season.

Dillon Tate - 10-Day IL - Forearm

7/23 7:46 AM EST - The Orioles placed Tate (forearm) on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Tate won't be available out of the Orioles' Opening Day bullpen while he continues to deal with a sore right forearm, an injury he initially picked up when he was struck by a comebacker in an intrasquad game. Once he's deemed healthy, Tate projects to work in middle relief for Baltimore.

Ramon Urias - Day-To-Day - Lower Leg

7/16 12:13 PM EST - Urias (lower leg) was added to Baltimore's 60-man player pool Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Urias will report to the team's alternate camp site in Bowie, Maryland. The 26-year-old, who was claimed off waivers in February, spent most of the 2019 season with Triple-A Memphis, slashing .263/.369/.424 in 96 games.

Zach Watson - Day-To-Day - Wrist

8/19 12:58 PM EST - Low-A Delmarva placed Watson on its 7-day injured list Aug. 14 after he was diagnosed with a fractured hand/wrist, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. The injury will spell an end to Watson's first season in the professional ranks after the Orioles nabbed him with a third-round pick in this June's first-year player draft. The LSU product won't require surgery to address the injury, putting him on track to report to spring training at full strength. Between stops at Delmarva and short-season Aberdeen, Watson slashed .226/.297/.435 with five home runs and five steals across 36 games.

Alex Wells - Day-To-Day - Oblique

3/1 2:16 PM EST - Wells (oblique) was assigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. Wells earned the invited to big-league camp after posting a 2.95 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 105:24 K:BB in 24 starts at Double-A Bowie last season, but he was unable to see any Grapefruit League action while battling a sore right oblique. The 23-year-old has resumed bullpen sessions and appears to be progressing toward a return, and he's set to begin the season with Bowie or at Triple-A Norfolk.

Stevie Wilkerson - Out - Finger

7/20 6:10 PM EST - Manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Wilkerson has fractured the ring finger on his left hand, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Wilkerson injured his left ring finger while making a sliding catch in right field during Sunday's exhibition game against the Phillies. The 28-year-old was battling for a 30-man roster spot ahead of the regular season and will now be forced to miss a significant portion of the 2020 season.

Boston Red Sox

Darwinzon Hernandez - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

7/21 1:43 PM EST - Hernandez (illness) was cleared to rejoin the team Tuesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. Hernandez arrived in Boston on Friday and was officially cleared to join the team for workouts Tuesday after clearing COVID-19 protocol. He'll remain on the COVID-19 injured list, but it's encouraging to see him working with the team ahead of the regular season. The southpaw reportedly resumed a throwing program in his absence, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to take the field for game action.

Collin McHugh - Out - Opt Out

7/19 1:49 PM EST - McHugh (elbow) opted out of the 2020 season since his recovery hasn't progressed like he had hoped, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. The 33-year-old has been working his way back from an elbow injury and was already ruled out for the start of the season, but he was apparently expected to be on the injured list for a significant portion of the shortened campaign. As a result, McHugh decided his time would be better spent at home with his family amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dustin Pedroia - 60-Day IL - Knee

4/15 9:25 AM EST - Manager Ron Roenicke said Tuesday that Pedroia (knee) is "not at a point where he's thinking about trying to be ready" to resume training with the Red Sox, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. The Red Sox won't be allowed to get together for workouts until Major League Baseball clears them to do so, but based on Roenicke's comments, it doesn't sound as though Pedroia is a serious candidate to rejoin Boston when training resumes. After appearing in just nine MLB games since 2018 while contending with multiple setbacks with his surgically repaired left knee, the 36-year-old Pedroia looks increasingly more likely to retire rather than resuming his playing career.

Eduardo Rodriguez - Covid-19 - Illness

7/24 11:01 AM EST - Rodriguez is dealing with a heart condition as a result of his battle with COVID-19, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. Rodriguez is reportedly dealing with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, as a result of the coronavirus. He's back in camp after testing negative for the virus, but he's been completely shut down from baseball activities as a strenuous workout would be dangerous to his heart. The Red Sox are reportedly optimistic that he'll be able to pitch at some point this season, but they'll have to wait until the inflammation subsides before they have a clearer picture of when he'll be able to get back on the field.

Chris Sale - 60-Day IL - Elbow

6/28 5:49 PM EST - Sale (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday. He will miss the entire season and some of the 2021 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late March. This move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster.

Josh Taylor - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

7/18 12:15 PM EST - Taylor (illness) cleared MLB protocol and will join the Red Sox for workouts Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. Taylor tested positive for COVID-19 in early July and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, but he'll be able to participate in team activities going forward. Whether he'll be able to join the bullpen for the start of the season remains to be seen, but it's encouraging to see him take the first step by gaining clearance to return after producing two negative tests.

Orioles Expected Lineup:

SP - Alex Cobb

1. Hanser Alberto

2. Austin Hays

3. Renato Nunez

4. Anthony Santander

5. Pedro Severino

6. Jose Iglesias

7. Dwight Smith

8. Andrew Velazquez

9. DJ Stewart

Red Sox Expected Lineup:

SP - Martin Perez

1. Andrew Benintendi

2. J.D. Martinez

3. Rafael Devers

4. Xander Bogaerts

5. Mitch Moreland

6. Christian Vazquez

7. Alex Verdugo

8. Michael Chavis

9. Jackie Bradley

RotoWire.com Projections:

Jackie Bradley, BOS - OF

• Credits: 15
• Proj. D11 Pts: 12.99

Trey Mancini, BAL - OF

• Credits: 14
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Renato Nunez, BAL - IF

• Credits: 13
• Proj. D11 Pts: 11.30

Anthony Santander, BAL - OF

• Credits: 13
• Proj. D11 Pts: 11.48

Dwight Smith, BAL - OF

• Credits: 12.5
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Hanser Alberto, BAL - IF

• Credits: 12
• Proj. D11 Pts: 12.29

Rio Ruiz, BAL - IF

• Credits: 12
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS - P

• Credits: 11.5
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Kevin Pillar, BOS - OF

• Credits: 11
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Nathan Eovaldi, BOS - P

• Credits: 11
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

John Means, BAL - P

• Credits: 11
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Ryan Weber, BOS - P

• Credits: 10.5
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Kevin Plawecki, BOS - C

• Credits: 10
• Proj. D11 Pts: 10.91

Austin Brice, BOS - P

• Credits: 10
• Proj. D11 Pts: 0.00

Chris Davis, BAL - IF

• Credits: 10
• Proj. D11 Pts: 8.03

Pedro Severino, BAL - C

• Credits: 10
• Proj. D11 Pts: 10.70

Top Picks From Each Team:

J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox: Martinez made quite an impact in the first game of the season against the Orioles, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk during Friday's 13-2 win. The veteran slugger kicked off the season in style after hitting for .304 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI in 2019.

Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles do not have many offensive alternatives to choose from, but Anthony Santander might be an intriguing choice. The 25-year-old had a .261/.287/.476 slash line with 20 home runs last season.

Captaincy Options:

1. J.D. Martinez
2. Jackie Bradley
3. Anthony Santander
4. Rafael Devers

Dream11 Team

P – Martin Perez

C – Pedro Severino

IF – Hanser Alberto

IF – Rafael Devers

IF – Xander Bogaerts

OF – Andrew Benintendi

OF – J.D. Martinez (C)

OF – Jackie Bradley (VC)

OF – Anthony Santander

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.