Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Rockies at Padres

Colorado Rockies (20-20) at San Diego Padres (25-17)

Monday, September 7th, 9:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 4.09 ERA) vs RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-1, 2.62 ERA)

Game Preview

The Rockies are one of the many National League teams that are looking to sneak into the Wild Card race and, at 20-20, they might not have a lot of time left to mount a winning streak that could push them closer to that goal. The Padres are unlikely to reach the Dodgers at the top of the NL West, but they seem to be a lock for a postseason berth and currently own one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, so they will be a nightmare matchup for most teams. The Padres might have the edge in pitching in this one, as Dinelson Lamet has been one of the most consistent arms in the NL and is yet to allow more than three earned runs in any given game this season. The Rockies will counter with Kyle Freeland, who enters this matchup with a solid, yet unspectacular, 4.09 ERA.

Injuries

Colorado Rockies

Ben Bowden - Out - Undisclosed

8/26 3:32 PM EST - Bowden suffered another injury while rehabbing a back injury at the Rockies' alternate training site, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports. The nature of Bowden's injury is unclear, but manager Bud Black said Wednesday that it's limited his availability at alternate camp. As a result, he's unlikely to appear in the majors during the abbreviated 2020 season. The southpaw had a 5.88 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with Triple-A Albuquerque last season, but he could make his major-league debut at some point once he's healthy.

Tim Collins - Out - Opt Out

7/27 10:51 AM EST - The Rockies announced Monday that Collins has elected to opt out of the 2020 season. Collins had been added to the Rockies' 60-man player pool in late June and was present for summer camp, but he failed to win a spot on the season-opening 30-man roster. Rather than waiting around at the Rockies' alternative training site for a potential callup to the big club, Collins will remove himself from the 60-man pool and pack it in for 2020. He's scheduled to become a free agent during the offseason.

David Dahl - 10-Day IL - Back

8/26 3:53 PM EST - Manager Bud Black said Dahl (back) is close to returning, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. Dahl landed on the injured list last week with a bout of lower-back soreness, but it sounds like he's nearing a return after facing teammate Chi Chi Gonzalez (biceps) in live batting practice Wednesday. Prior to landing on the shelf, the outfielder struggled to a .189/.238/.243 line across 19 games.

Wade Davis - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/26 4:04 PM EST - Davis (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. This is an encouraging step for Davis, who has been sidelined all month with a right shoulder strain. An updated timetable for the right-hander's return should come into focus once he's further along in his throwing program. In the meantime, Daniel Bard and Carlos Estevez are Colorado's top options for saves.

Ian Desmond - Out - Opt Out

6/29 7:35 PM EST - Desmond announced Monday via his personal Instagram account that he won't play in 2020 for personal reasons. Desmond will opt to sit out the 2020 season once play resumes to focus on civil rights issues and out of concerns about playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the fourth known player to do so. The 34-year-old has an expectant wife and four young children, and he outlined his concerns of playing during the pandemic. He was only expected to play against left-handed pitchers, so there will likely only be minor bumps in playing time for Sam Hilliard, Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers.

Jon Gray - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

9/4 3:46 PM EST - Gray was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Sept. 2. Gray was shelled by the Giants on Tuesday as he allowed seven runs on nine hits over 2.2 innings, and his injury could have contributed to his struggles. It's unclear how much time he's expected to miss as a result of his shoulder issue. Right-hander Jose Mujica was recalled from alternate camp and could take Gray's place in the starting rotation while he's sidelined.

Joe Harvey - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/24 4:33 PM EST - Harvey (elbow) was placed on the 45-day injured list Monday. Harvey will miss the remainder of the 2020 season following this move. He suffered a right elbow sprain during Friday's outing. Harvey struck out two across 3.1 scoreless innings in four appearances prior to suffering the injury.

Peter Lambert - 60-Day IL - Elbow

7/23 9:41 AM EST - The Rockies announced Thursday that Lambert (elbow) recently underwent Tommy John surgery and was placed on the 45-day injured list. Lambert had previously developed a forearm strain late in spring training and apparently didn't fully move past the issue four months later at summer camp, prompting him to undergo the corrective procedure. Given the timing of his surgery, Lambert appears set to miss the entire 2021 campaign while rehabbing the elbow injury, though he should back to full strength for spring training in 2022.

Justin Lawrence - Out - Suspension

1/17 2:06 PM EST - Lawrence was handed an 80-game suspension Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports Lawrence split the 2019 season between Double-A and Triple-A and struggled at both levels with a combined 8.76 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 37 innings. The 25-year-old was added to the 40-man roster in November 2018 to be protected from the Rule 5 draft after a solid season, but the suspension and a rocky 2019 leaves his standing on the roster unstable at best.

Scott Oberg - 60-Day IL - Arm

8/2 10:59 AM EST - Oberg (back) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Sunday due to blood clots in his right arm. The 30-year-old was nearing his return from a back injury when he began feeling discomfort in his right hand and had trouble gripping the ball, and further evaluations revealed his blood clot issues have resurfaced. Oberg missed the final six weeks of 2019 due to the issue , and it's now the third time the problem has surfaced over the past few years. He'll be sidelined for the near future and may not pitch in 2020.

Chris Owings - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

8/20 9:24 AM EST - Owings was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a strained hamstring, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports. He exited a game last week with left hamstring tightness, and has since appeared in several games, but it sounds like he made the injury worse, despite going 2-for-4 in Wednesday's game. Brendan Rodgers was recalled and will start at second base Thursday against the Astros.

Brendan Rodgers - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

9/2 10:34 AM EST - Rodgers' shoulder strain isn't considered to be a major injury, and he's expected to be able to throw within the next few days, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. Rodgers reportedly jammed his shoulder in a collision with Manny Machado while sliding into third base Saturday. Whether or not he'll be able to return when first eligible next Wednesday remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely that he'll wind up missing the rest of the year.

San Diego Padres

Austin Adams - 60-Day IL - Knee

8/30 7:53 PM EST - Adams (knee) was traded from the Mariners to the Padres on Sunday in a trade involving Ty France several players, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Adams has been recovering since undergoing knee surgery in September of 2019, but he appears to be nearing his return to the mound. The right-hander had been throwing to begin the season, but he'll have to face live hitters at some point before he's cleared to return to game action. Adams made 30 appearances (two starts) with the Nationals and Mariners in his first major-league season in 2019, and he posted a 3.94 ERA and 53:16 K:BB over 32 innings.

Pedro Avila - Out - Elbow

3/9 8:27 PM EST - Avila (elbow) was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The move is purely procedural as Avila was invited to big-league camp despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. He is not expected to play during the 2020 season.

Luis Campusano - 10-Day IL - Hand

9/6 12:21 PM EST - Campusano has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist sprain, retroactive to Sept. 5. Any injury at this point puts the rest of his season in jeopardy, though the Padres have not ruled out a return for Campusano before the end of the month. Former Mariners closer Taylor Williams was recalled in a corresponding move, so San Diego will be rolling with two catchers again, at least until Francisco Mejia (thumb) is ready.

Jose Castillo - 60-Day IL - Lat

9/4 5:08 PM EST - Castillo (lat) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Friday. Castillo has been on the injured list with a Grade 2 lat strain since July 23, and the procedural move of transferring him to the 45-day IL will free up a spot on the 40-man roster. The southpaw could still potentially return during the 2020 campaign, but a timetable hasn't been established.

Anderson Espinoza - 60-Day IL - Elbow

4/14 10:11 PM EST - Espinoza (elbow) was reportedly throwing and looking good in Padres camp, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Espinoza has undergone two Tommy John surgeries in the last three years and has not thrown in a game since the 2016 season. Still, the right-hander is only 22 years old and was once considered among the top pitching prospects in baseball, so he remains an intriguing arm to keep an eye on. Given Espinoza's injury history, he's likely to be eased back into action slowly and held to a strict innings limit when he's ready to resume pitching in games.

Brett Kennedy - Out - Lat

10/31 2:00 PM EST - Kennedy (lat) was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Kennedy missed the entire 2019 season with a lat strain, and is now off the 40-man roster after posting a 6.75 ERA in six starts for the Padres in 2018. There's a chance he could attend major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Reggie Lawson - Out - Elbow

3/20 3:27 PM EST - Lawson underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. Lawson suffered the injury during a spring training contest. Given a typical recovery timeline, he now won't return to action until the middle of the 2021 season. The 22-year-old made six starts at the Double-A level last season, recording a 5.20 ERA but a strong 29.8 percent strikeout rate.

Francisco Mejia - 10-Day IL - Thumb

8/29 9:09 AM EST - Mejia (thumb) has been hitting at the Padres' alternate training site and could be activated from the injured list in the near future, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. Mejia was placed on the 10-day IL with a left-thumb bruise Aug. 17. He has resumed swinging the bat, though he hasn't yet reached a point in which he's ready to return. "He is progressing," manager Jayce Tingler said. "He's currently at USD, and he's getting a lot of at-bats. The hand continues to improve. All the reports from his game swings, he's taking baby steps forward from both sides of the plate." Cassavell notes that Mejia isn't likely to rejoin the Padres on their current road trip in Colorado, but he could be activated sometime next week.

Emilio Pagan - 10-Day IL - Biceps

9/2 5:09 PM EST - Pagan was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right biceps inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 31. The right-hander last pitched Sunday and delivered a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, and it's unclear when or how he sustained the injury. Pagan will be eligible to be activated Sept. 10, but he may require additional time before rejoining the team.

Luis Perdomo - 10-Day IL - Forearm

9/4 5:13 PM EST - Perdomo was placed on the 10-day injured list with right forearm inflammation Friday. Perdomo has been mostly effective while serving as a low-leverage reliever for the Padres this year, but he'll miss time with a forearm issue. The severity of the issue is unclear. The right-hander carries a 5.06 ERA and 1.31 ERA over 16 innings across nine appearances (one start) this season.

Tommy Pham - 10-Day IL - Hand

9/5 4:56 PM EST - Pham (hand) has been catching fly balls in order to increase his grip strength, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Pham went on the 10-day injured list Aug. 17 with a fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand. The bone is at the outer part of the wrist, and the fracture causes pain when Pham swings a bat. The veteran has been working on opening and closing his glove in order to increase his grip strength, though he has yet to take any swings. Manager Jayce Tingler noted that Pham's eventual return will be a "pain tolerance deal," suggesting that the 32-year-old will try to rejoin the active roster before he's completely pain-free.

Trey Wingenter - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/1 8:29 AM EST - Wingenter (elbow) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Saturday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports. The move is simply procedural after Wingenter underwent Tommy John surgery July 17. The right-hander is expected to be sidelined until the 2022 season as a result of the injury.

Kirby Yates - 10-Day IL - Elbow

8/17 6:28 PM EST - Yates (elbow) is expected to miss the remainder of the 2020 season, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. It was reported earlier in the day that Yates was headed for a second opinion after bone chips were found in his right elbow, but this latest update from Nightengale gives reason to believe the right-hander may be done for the year. The team has yet to confirm this latest report. It's reasonable to expect another update on the closer in the near future.

Padres Expected Lineup

SP - Dinelson Lamet

1. Trent Grisham

2. Fernando Tatis

3. Manny Machado

4. Eric Hosmer

5. Mitch Moreland

6. Wil Myers

7. Jake Cronenworth

8. Jurickson Profar

9. Austin Nola

Rockies Expected Lineup

SP - Kyle Freeland

1. Raimel Tapia

2. Trevor Story

3. Charlie Blackmon

4. Nolan Arenado

5. Daniel Murphy

6. Kevin Pillar

7. Ryan McMahon

8. Garrett Hampson

9. Tony Wolters

Top Picks From Each Team

Fernando Tatis, Padres: Tatis continues to make a strong case to win the NL MVP Award, and the star shortstop has been an absolute menace offensively. Tatis, who has already notched 15 homers, is slashing .311/.398/.665 with seven stolen bases, 39 RBI and 43 runs scored in an excellent sophomore campaign.

Trevor Story, Rockies: Story went 0-for-3 with two stolen bases and two walks in his previous game, and it's safe to say he has cooled off a bit of late following a strong start to the season -- going just 8-for-32 (.250) with two RBI and three runs scored in his last eight games. Despite that, he remains the most reliable offensive threat on the team. He has 11 steals, nine homers, 20 RBI and 32 runs scored in 39 contests this season.

Captaincy Options

1. Fernando Tatis
2. Manny Machado
3. Trevor Story
4. Dinelson Lamet

Dream11 Team

P – Dinelson Lamet

C – Austin Nola

IF – Manny Machado (VC)

IF – Fernando Tatis (C)

IF – Trevor Story

IF – Nolan Arenado

IF – Jurickson Profar

OF – Trent Grisham

OF – Charlie Blackmon