Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Reds at Brewers

Cincinnati Reds (11-17) at Milwaukee Brewers (13-15)

Thursday, August 27th, 5:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 2.21 ERA) vs RHP Adrian Houser (1-2, 3.72 ERA)

Game Preview

The Reds offense has struggled badly this season, as they don't have any regular name in the lineup hitting over the .300 threshold and, to make things even worst, they sit at the bottom of the NL when it comes to runs scored per game, with only 3.93. The Brewers might have the edge when it comes to the offense, but they haven't been much better than Cincinnati and only average 3.96 runs per game, which is the second-worst mark in the NL. Cincinnati has the edge when it comes to pitching, however, as they will send Sonny Gray to the mound, while Milwaukee will counter with Adrian Houser. Gray has been one of the best starters in the NL this season and he will have to carry the team to victory in this one given how bad the offense has looked.

Injuries

Cincinnati Reds

Matt Bowman - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/24 10:34 AM EST - Bowman (elbow) will throw one more bullpen session at the Reds' alternate training site this week before testing himself against hitters, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Bowman won't be eligible to return from the 45-day injured list until Sept. 6, but based on where he currently stands in his recovery from a sprained right elbow, he looks like he's on track to be ready to go in the minimum amount of time. He made 27 appearances out of the Cincinnati bullpen in 2019, posting a 3.66 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 32 innings.

Anthony DeSclafani - Paternity - Personal

8/25 1:45 PM EST - DeSclafani was placed on the paternity list Tuesday. He can miss no more than three games on the paternity list, so he will be able to return to the team in time for his scheduled start Friday against the Cubs.

Hunter Greene - Out - Elbow

7/22 6:39 PM EST - Greene (elbow) was added to the Reds' 60-player roster pool Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. One of the organization's top prospects, Greene wasn't included in the team's initial 60-man group, but he'll report to the alternate training site with summer camp reaching its conclusion. The 20-year-old is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in April 2019, so the structured team workouts should be a major benefit given the cancellation of the minor-league season.

Vladimir Gutierrez - Suspension - Suspension

6/28 12:18 PM EST - Gutierrez has tested positive for Stanozolol and received an 80-game suspension, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. The 24-year-old started the spring training opener for the Reds in February, but he won't be seeing game action anytime soon. Given the state of the minor-league season, Gutierrez could be sidelined for most of the 2021 season.

Nick Hanson - Out - Elbow

3/23 2:17 PM EST - Hanson is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Hanson was taken with the 79th pick in the 2016 first-year player draft. It's an unfortunate blow for both parties, and the 18-year-old will be out for at least a year as he begins his long road back from the surgery.

Nick Senzel - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/19 11:30 AM EST - Senzel was placed on the injured list Wednesday. The Reds didn't specify a reason for the move, but it could potentially be related to the positive coronavirus test that caused the Reds' past few games to get postponed. It's possible Senzel was the person who tested positive, though players can be placed on the COVID-19 injured list merely for having been exposed to someone who tested positive, so it's difficult to know for sure. Shogo Akiyama slides to center field for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Royals.

Milwaukee Brewers

Ray Black - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

8/13 12:53 PM EST - Black (shoulder) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Thursday. Black has been sidelined all season with a strained right rotator cuff, and he won't be eligible to return until September following this move. The right-hander will likely fill a middle-relief role if he returns this season.

Lorenzo Cain - Out - Opt Out

8/2 4:04 PM EST - The Brewers placed Cain (personal) on the restricted list Saturday. Cain's addition to the restricted list was a formality after he informed the team Saturday that he would opt out of the 2020 season. The Brewers are expected to proceed with Ben Gamel as their primary center fielder for the remainder of the campaign.

Justin Grimm - 10-Day IL - Finger

8/13 12:57 PM EST - Grimm was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a callous laceration on his right index finger. Grimm suffered the injury during Wednesday's loss to the Twins and will miss at least 10 days as a result. Angel Perdomo was added to the roster in a corresponding move and should take Grimm's spot in the bullpen for the time being.

Nathan Kirby - Day-To-Day - Neck

3/7 8:20 AM EST - Kirby (neck/rib) is throwing live batting practice sessions, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Kirby missed all of the 2019 season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery and then fracturing a rib, but he has been able to get up on the mound this spring. Injuries have been the name of the game for Kirby, who has appeared in just 32 minor-league games since being selected 40th overall in 2015. In an effort to keep him healthy, the Brewers will use Kirby exclusively as a reliever moving forward.

Corey Knebel - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

8/20 2:18 PM EST - Knebel was placed on the injured list Thursday with a right hamstring strain. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Knebel -- who has struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery -- has been trying to work through some mechanical issues on the mound, per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the skipper believes that might have led to his hamstring injury. It's unclear how long the issue will keep Knebel sidelined, though he'll be eligible to return at the end of the month if he proves ready. Mark Mathias was recalled from the team's satellite camp to take Knebel's place on the roster.

Caden Lemons - Out - Hip

8/21 6:47 PM EST - Lemons underwent right hip surgery earlier in August and will be out for the rest of the season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Lemons never saw game action in 2019 but is expected to be ready to go come spring training. The 20-year-old has a 4.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB through his first 13 games in rookie ball since being drafted 46th overall in the 2017 draft..

Shelby Miller - Out - Opt Out

8/3 1:52 PM EST - Miller opted out of the 2020 season Monday. Miller didn't make the Brewers' Opening Day roster and was working at the team's alternate training site in Appleton. However, he'll elect to sit out the remainder of the season in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 29-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers during the offseason but should be ready to compete for a role with a major-league pitching staff ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Freddy Zamora - Out - Knee

6/11 2:56 PM EST - The Brewers have selected Zamora (knee) with the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft. One of the best defensive shortstops in the class, Zamora has a well-rounded skill set, but he didn't play collegiately in 2020 after tearing his ACL. He hit .300 with an 11.3 percent walk rate and 9.3 percent strikeout rate at Miami, and he went from one home run as a freshman to six home runs as a sophomore. Zamora also put his above-average speed to work, going 33-for-40 (82.5 percent) on stolen-base attempts over 104 games. It's unclear if he will have the same burst and athleticism when he returns to action. If he maxes out, he could be an everyday shortstop that hits 15-20 home runs and steals 15-20 bases while making enough contact to hit around .270.

Noah Zavolas - Out - Undisclosed

8/15 1:02 PM EST - Zavolas was placed on the injured list for High-A Carolina retroactive to Aug. 14. It's not clear what landed Zavolas on the injured list, but he has not pitched in a week, and will miss more time due to his injury. Zavolas is throwing well in his first season in the Milwaukee organization, going 6-5 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 102:23 K:BB in 133 innings over 22 starts.

Brewers Expected Lineup

SP - Adrian Houser

1. Ryan Braun

2. Christian Yelich

3. Keston Hiura

4. Jedd Gyorko

5. Avisail Garcia

6. Manny Pina

7. Justin Smoak

8. Luis Urias

9. Orlando Arcia

Reds Expected Lineup

SP - Sonny Gray

1. Joey Votto

2. Nick Castellanos

3. Jesse Winker

4. Eugenio Suarez

5. Mike Moustakas

6. Shogo Akiyama

7. Jose Garcia

8. Mark Payton

9. Tucker Barnhart

Top Picks From Each Team

Keston Hiura, Brewers: Hiura has been outplaying MVP candidate Christian Yelich this season and, even though his .243 average isn't very exciting, he's leading the squad in both home runs (seven) and RBI (16). That alone makes him worthy of a potential captaincy nod.

Nick Castellanos, Reds: Castellanos seems to be the best option for offense in a struggling Reds lineup and while his .245 average doesn't jump off the page, he has nine homers with 20 RBI so he's getting the job done. That said, he is trending in the wrong direction since he's only slashing .145/.280/.190 in his last six games. He needs to bounce back sooner than later.

Captaincy Options

1. Christian Yelich
2. Keston Hiura
3. Nick Castellanos
4. Sonny Gray

Dream11 Team

P – Sonny Gray

C – Tucker Barnhart

IF – Justin Smoak

IF – Keston Hiura (C)

IF – Orlando Arcia

OF – Nick Castellanos

OF – Jesse Winker

OF – Avisail Garcia

OF – Christian Yelich (VC)