Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: White Sox at Pirates

Written by

Juan Pablo Aravena

Published on September 9, 2020

Chicago White Sox (26-16) at Pittsburgh Pirates (14-26)

Wednesday, September 9th, 7:05 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Dane Dunning (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs RHP JT Brubaker (1-0, 3.96 ERA)

Game Preview

This matchup between the White Sox and the Pirates will face two teams that are moving in opposite directions as the 2020 MLB season heads into its stretch run – while the White Sox are a clear-cut playoff team in the American League, the Pirates will likely end in last place of the NL Central and are already thinking about how they will approach the 2021 MLB season. The pitching matchup for this game does not offer many standout options and, in fact, this will be a duel of two young right-handers in JT Brubaker and Dane Dunning. Their numbers across the board are quite similar, but the White Sox hurler, Dunning, might have the edge since the Pirates are a weaker lineup in comparison to the White Sox.

Injuries

Chicago White Sox

Aaron Bummer - 60-Day IL - Biceps

9/5 3:16 PM EST - Bummer (biceps) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Saturday. Bummer will shift to the 45-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster as he deals with a nerve issue near his biceps. The southpaw could still return prior to the end of the season, but his status depends on how the nerve issue responds to his throwing program.

Jace Fry - 10-Day IL - Back

9/5 11:53 AM EST -

Chicago White Sox (26-16) at Pittsburgh Pirates (14-26)

Wednesday, September 9th, 7:05 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Dane Dunning (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs RHP JT Brubaker (1-0, 3.96 ERA)

Game Preview

Injuries

Chicago White Sox

Aaron Bummer - 60-Day IL - Biceps

Jace Fry - 10-Day IL - Back

9/5 11:53 AM EST - Fry was placed on the 10-day injured list with back spasms, retroactive to Thursday. Fry has been quite effective recently as he hasn't allowed a run over his last nine appearances, but he was apparently dealing with a back issue and will miss time as a result. The severity of the issue is unclear. Alex McRae's contract was selected by the White Sox to fill a bullpen role in Fry's absence.

Leury Garcia - 60-Day IL - Thumb

8/15 8:18 AM EST - Garcia will undergo surgery to repair his left thumb, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Garcia was transferred to the 45-day injured list Saturday, and manager Rick Renteria revealed that he won't be available until at least October. He apparently severed the ligament in his thumb, necessitating a lengthy recovery. The 29-year-old is hitting .271 with three home runs and eight RBI but could be available for a potential playoff run if his recovery goes well.

Dallas Keuchel - Day-To-Day - Back

9/6 1:36 PM EST - Keuchel left Sunday's game against the Royals with lower-back stiffness and is day-to-day, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. He allowed two hits and struck out two over five scoreless innings, ultimately earning the win to improve to 6-2. This seems to be good news all things considered; it's not an arm injury, and the fact the White Sox used the term "day-to-day" suggests Keuchel could make his next start. That said, the team may want to wait and see how he feels in the coming days before making any final decisions regarding his status for next weekend.

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.

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

9/5 4:04 PM EST - Rodon (shoulder) was experiencing discomfort Friday and didn't throw his scheduled 60-pitch bullpen, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Rodon has been ramping up his workload and appeared to be near a return, but his timetable became murkier following his recent setback. The team will monitor his status in the coming days to determine when he can return to the mound.

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.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Anthony Alford - 60-Day IL - Elbow

9/9 7:18 AM EST - Alford underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his fractured right elbow and will be a full participant in spring training, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Alford hit .214 with two home runs, three steals and an 8:1 K:BB in 28 MLB at-bats prior to suffering the fracture. His two home runs came over his final eight games. The Pirates have a somewhat unsettled outfield depth chart heading into 2021, so while Alford will have a chance to earn playing time, he will be competing with a host of other hungry young players, some of whom have not yet debuted, like Jared Oliva and Travis Swaggerty.

Chris Archer - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

8/6 12:02 PM EST - Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Archer (shoulder) remains at his offseason home in California and is focusing on regaining his range of motion and strength, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. The Pirates will continue to check in with Archer periodically over the next two months while he recovers from season-ending thoracic outlet syndrome, but he'll likely be on his own in the rehab process come November, when Pittsburgh will almost certainly decline his $11 million team option for 2021. Even if his recovery from surgery proceeds as anticipated, the two-time All-Star will likely have to settle for a low-cost, one- or two-year deal after posting a 5.19 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 2019.

Socrates Brito - Out - Opt Out

9/1 4:03 PM EST - Brito decided to opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season after his brother passed away from COVID-19 last week, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Brito was unable to make the Opening Day roster and has since been at the Pirates' alternate training site. He'll sit out the rest of the season after the tragic death of his sibling.

Nick Burdi - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/12 10:41 AM EST - Burdi (elbow) won't need surgery for now and will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection instead, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Burdi picked up his first career save this year but lasted just three appearances before his frustratingly frequent injury problems resurfaced. While it's certainly a positive that he's avoided surgery, his latest issue is nevertheless serious enough that he's already been ruled out for the remainder of the year. Whether or not he's at full strength to being the 2021 campaign remains to be seen.

Austin Davis - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

9/2 7:41 PM EST - Davis was placed on the COVID-19 injured list while he goes through the intake protocols, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Pirates from the Phillies last week, but he'll need to clear the protocols before officially joining his new team. Davis had a 6.53 ERA and 1.74 WHIP over 20.2 innings last season and should fill a low-leverage role in Pittsburgh once he's on the roster.

Phillip Evans - 60-Day IL - Jaw

8/19 1:53 PM EST - Evans will undergo surgery to repair his broken jaw, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Evans landed on the 45-day injured list earlier in the month after sustaining a broken jaw and a concussion in a collision with teammate Gregory Polanco. While it was originally thought that he wouldn't require surgery, it turns out the 27-year-old will need a wire put in his jaw. Evans is eligible to return at the end of September, but the Pirates are preparing as though he'll miss the remainder of the season.

Michael Feliz - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/6 11:45 AM EST - The Pirates ruled Feliz (forearm) out for the season after transferring him to the 45-day injured list Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Pittsburgh has lost two key pieces of the bullpen for the remainder of the season in recent days, as Nick Burdi (elbow) was also shut down for good after moving to the 45-day IL on Wednesday. The Pirates diagnosed Feliz with a strained right forearm, an injury that is often a precursor to Tommy John surgery. With the team having yet to announce that any surgery will be in the cards for Feliz, he'll presumably treat the injury through rest and rehab with the hope of being back to full health for spring training in 2021.

Clay Holmes - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/11 3:55 PM EST - Holmes (forearm) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Holmes has been sidelined since the end of July with a right forearm strain. The team wasn't initially anticipating a very long absence, but the issue is evidently more serious than they thought. The 27-year-old will be eligible to return late in the 2020 campaign, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team shut him down for the remainder of the season so he can fully recover. Right-hander Nick Tropeano was claimed off waivers and optioned to the alternate training site to take Holmes' spot on the 40-man roster.

Keone Kela - 10-Day IL - Forearm

9/2 2:49 PM EST - Kela (forearm) played catch from 120 feet Wednesday and could throw a bullpen session later this week, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. The 27-year-old landed on the injured list last week with right forearm tightness, but he wasn't prevented from throwing for too long. Kela is unlikely to be activated when eligible to return this weekend, but his return may not be far off with a successful bullpen session.

Mitch Keller - 10-Day IL - Oblique

9/6 7:10 AM EST - Keller (oblique) is set to throw another live batting practice session in the new few days, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Keller threw 35 pitches in two innings of batting practice Friday. With no setbacks from that session, Keller will throw again soon and could rejoin the rotation shortly thereafter. With just under a month remaining in the season, it's unclear how many starts Keller would be able to make, though the Pirates would likely want to see him return to the mound before the conclusion of the campaign.

Kevin Kramer - 60-Day IL - Hip

6/29 1:02 PM EST - The Pirates placed Kramer (hip) on the 10-day injured list Monday and then transferred him to the 60-day IL. He underwent hip surgery in March that will sideline him for 4-to-6 months, so it's possible he won't play at all this season. Kramer was set to compete for a bench role under normal circumstances.

Travis MacGregor - Day-To-Day - Elbow

4/4 8:17 AM EST - MacGregor underwent Tommy John surgery last September and will miss the entire 2019 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound projectable righty, MacGregor wasn't really on the dynasty-league radar, but he could have gotten himself there with a healthy, productive season at High-A. Instead, he will be on the shelf all season and may not even be healthy in time to pitch in winter ball. He will likely head back to Low-A to open the 2020 season to knock off rust before an assignment to High-A.

Luke Maile - 60-Day IL - Finger

7/23 11:43 AM EST - The Pirates placed Maile (finger) on the 60-day injured list Thursday. Maile was ruled out for 10-to-12 weeks after undergoing surgery July 17 to repair a fractured index finger on his throwing hand, so the transaction comes as little surprise. The Pirates will proceed with Jacob Stallings and John Ryan Murphy as their two catchers on the Opening Day roster with Maile sidelined.

James Marvel - Out - Forearm

8/19 2:05 PM EST - Marvel is dealing with a strained right forearm, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. Marvel apparently suffered the injury a couple of weeks ago. While the severity of the issue is not yet known, forearm injuries can often be the precursor to a significant surgery.

Hector Noesi - Out - Opt Out

7/8 6:18 PM EST - Manager Derek Shelton said Wednesday that Noesi has opted out of the 2020 season due to family reasons, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. The right-hander struggled over 27.2 innings in Miami last season with an 8.46 ERA, but he nonetheless earned a spot in Pittsburgh's 60-man player pool. Noesi will instead sit out the 2020 campaign for the benefit of his family.

Pablo Reyes - Suspension - Suspension

2/19 2:10 PM EST - Reyes was dealt an 80-game suspension without pay Wednesday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Reyes was not invited to spring training after being outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on January 16. The 26-year-old struggled to produce offensively for the Pirates in 2019, slashing .203/.274/.322 with 39 runs scored and 36 RBI throughout 157 plate appearances.

Yacksel Rios - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

9/2 8:26 PM EST - Rios (shoulder) is playing catch from 120 feet, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. Rios was placed on the injured list Aug. 18 with right shoulder inflammation, but he has yet to progress to mound work. The 27-year-old is already eligible to be activated, but it's unclear when he's expected to be ready for game action.

Edgar Santana - Suspension - Suspension

6/30 9:17 AM EST - The Pirates placed Santana (suspension) on the restricted list Sunday. Pittsburgh made the move shortly after it was announced Sunday that Santana had received an 80-game suspension following his positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenon. The transaction opens up an extra spot on the 40-man roster and spells an official end to the right-hander's season, as he won't be an option with the Pirates only playing 60 games in 2020. He'll serve out the final 20 games of his suspension at the start of the 2021 season.

Jameson Taillon - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/26 10:39 AM EST - Taillon (elbow) will throw live batting practice Wednesday at the alternate site in Altoona, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. Former Pirates beat writer Travis Sawchik, now of FiveThirtyEight, retweeted a video that Taillon posted, noting that he has shortened his arm action, similar to what Lucas Giolito and many Cleveland pitchers have done in recent years. This may provide optimism that Taillon can be the rare pitcher who successfully recovers from two Tommy John surgeries. He is not expected back until the 2021 season.

Felipe Vazquez - Out - Personal

11/19 1:11 PM EST - Florida prosecutors filed 21 new charges against Vazquez on Tuesday, Renatta Signorini and Rich Cholodofsky of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report. Police seized an iPhone and a MacBook Pro they say belonged to Vazquez, and a search of those devices led to the additional charges; 10 counts of child pornography, 10 counts of unlawful contact with a minor and a single charge of corruption of minors. Vazquez was originally arrested in September for engaging in sexual activity with a minor and was subsequently placed on the restricted list by MLB. He is being held without bail.