Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Tigers at Indians

Detroit Tigers (10-15) at Cleveland Indians (17-10)

Sunday, August 23rd, 1:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Tarik Skubal (0.1, 18.00 ERA) vs RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.71 ERA)

Game Preview

The Indians are one of the leaders in the AL Wild Card Race, and they are just 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins on the race for the AL Central title – it's clear they will have something to play for from now on until the end of the regular season. The same can't be said about the Tigers, however, as they continue with a painful rebuilding process that has notched them just 10 wins in 25 games this season. The pitching matchup also favors Cleveland, as Carlos Carrasco will get the nod over rookie Tarik Skubal, who will only make the second start of his young MLB career.

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.

Delino DeShields - Day-To-Day - Hip

8/22 6:32 PM EST - DeShields was removed from Saturday's game against the Tigers with left hip tightness, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. DeShields went 0-for-2 prior to exiting. It's unclear how the 28-year-old sustained the injury, and DeShields should be considered day-to-day until his prognosis becomes more clear.

Sandy Leon - Out - Personal

8/18 3:15 PM EST - Leon was placed on the family medical emergency list Tuesday. Leon will miss at least three days. When he returns, he won't be the team's top catcher, as Roberto Perez returned from a shoulder injury in a corresponding move.

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.

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.

Detroit Tigers

Dario Agrazal - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/19 12:13 PM EST - Agrazal (forearm) was placed on the 45-day injured list Wednesday. He had been sidelined with forearm tendinitis, but this essentially ends his 2020 season. Agrazal was throwing as recently as last week, so it looks like he is hoping to avoid surgery.

Harold Castro - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

8/19 12:05 PM EST - Castro was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Wednesday. Castro left Tuesday's game against the White Sox with the injury, which is evidently serious enough to keep him out for at least 10 days. Whether or not he'll need more time beyond that remains to be seen. He filled just a part-time role during his time with the team, so his absence won't shake up the Tigers' depth chart very much.

C.J. Cron - 60-Day IL - Knee

8/19 12:08 PM EST - Cron (knee) was placed on the 45-day injured list Wednesday. He elected season-ending surgery on his sprained left knee last week, so this is just a formality to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Cron will be a free agent this offseason.

Carlos Guzman - Out - Elbow

5/22 6:33 PM EST - Guzman was placed on the minor-league injured list Monday with a right elbow strain, Emily Waldon of The Athletic reports. Guzman has enjoyed a nice start to the season at Low-A West Michigan with a 2.73 ERA and 1.24 WHIP despite a 27:18 K:BB through seven starts. It's not known how long the 21-year-old is expected to be sidelined.

Derek Hill - Out - Knee

7/23 6:39 PM EST - Hill (knee) was not included on the Tigers' 30-man Opening Day roster. Hill had an impressive summer camp, but after injuring his knee in an intrasquad game a week ago, he won't be on the Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old could make his MLB debut at some point this year once he's healthy.

Ivan Nova - 10-Day IL - Triceps

8/15 10:26 AM EST - The Tigers announced Saturday that they are placing Nova on the 10-day injured list with right triceps tendinitis and are recalling Anthony Castro from their alternate training site in a corresponding move. Less than 24 hours after getting walloped for eight runs, Nova is headed to the IL. While he didn't last long during his outing, there were no initial reports saying that he had been experiencing any discomfort in his arm. Many fans were hoping the Tigers would promote Casey Mize, but that does not appear to be the case as of yet. Nova is eligible to return Aug. 25, although it has not been confirmed whether he will return after the minimum 10 days or if he will need extended time on the shelf.

Reynaldo Rivera - Out - Suspension

8/7 1:54 PM EST - Rivera was suspended 80 games Wednesday for testing positive for Trenbolone, a banned performance-enhancing substance, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports. Rivera was a second-round pick back in 2017. He's had very little professional success thus far, hitting .213/.288/.345 overall, good for just an 87 wRC+.

Troy Stokes - 60-Day IL - Hand

8/7 2:06 PM EST - Stokes (hand) was recalled and placed on the 45-day injured list Friday. Stokes may not play at all this year after undergoing hand surgery in early July. If he does return, it will come quite late in the season.

Joey Wentz - Out - Elbow

4/27 5:51 PM EST - Wentz (elbow) is beginning his rehab from Tommy John surgery at the Tigers' spring training facility in Florida, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports. Wentz underwent the procedure in mid-March, and he is now one of just three Detroit players currently still in Lakeland, joining Michael Fulmer (elbow) and Shao-Ching Chiang. The 22-year-old will of course ease into activity, but he should be able to continue his rehab work in relative isolation while MLB play is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Wentz will still likely be out until the second half of the 2021 season.

Jordan Zimmermann - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/22 1:19 PM EST - Zimmermann (forearm) threw another successful bullpen session Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. Zimmermann reportedly felt "really good" after he threw Friday and has a chance to progress to simulated games next week. The veteran has yet to make an appearance in 2020 after being placed on the 45-day injured list with forearm rightness just days before the season began. It seems as though Zimmermann is progressing well and could have a chance to debut before the regular season concludes.

Indians Expected Lineup

SP - Carlos Carrasco

1. Cesar Hernandez

2. Jose Ramirez

3. Francisco Lindor

4. Carlos Santana

5. Franmil Reyes

6. Jordan Luplow

7. Domingo Santana

8. Roberto Perez

9. Delino DeShields

Tigers Expected Lineup

SP - Tarik Skubal

1. Jeimer Candelario

2. JaCoby Jones

3. Miguel Cabrera

4. Jonathan Schoop

5. Niko Goodrum

6. Christin Stewart

7. Victor Reyes

8. Austin Romine

9. Isaac Paredes

Top Picks From Each Team

Francisco Lindor, Indians: Lindor is the undisputed star of this game, and the star shortstop responded to that tag Saturday when he went 3-for-4 with a double. He's only hitting .252, which is low for his standards, but he has all the tools to bounce back sooner than later. He has hit safely in five of the Indians' last six games, so he's trending in the right direction.

Jonathan Schoop, Tigers: Schoop might have gone 0-for-3 Saturday against the Indians, but the talented infielder continues to be one of the most productive bats in a struggling Tigers offense. He is hitting .278 with a .802 OPS, and he has also hit safely in four of the team's last six games.

Captaincy Options

1. Francisco Lindor
2. Jose Ramirez
3. Jonathan Schoop
4. Carlos Carrasco

Dream11 Team

P – Carlos Carrasco

C – Austin Romine

IF – Jonathan Schoop

IF – Jeimer Candelario

IF – Francisco Lindor (C)

IF – Jose Ramirez (VC)

OF – Delino DeShields

OF – Franmil Reyes

OF – Domingo Santana