Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: White Sox at Tigers

Chicago White Sox (9-9) at Detroit Tigers (9-6)

Wednesday, August 12th, 1:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.05 ERA) vs LHP Matthew Boyd (0-1, 9.20 ERA)

Game Preview

The Chicago White Sox have been disappointing of late and, despite starting the season on a strong note, they have been trending in the wrong direction of late and now own a 9-9 record after winning just five of their last 10 games. They've been stronger on the road, though, where they've posted a 7-3 record. At the other end, the Detroit Tigers have been one of the biggest surprises in the league and currently sit in second place of the AL Central standings with a 9-5 record, sitting just 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the division lead and going 6-4 over their last 10 contests. The pitching matchup seems to favor the White Sox, though, as they will send righty Dylan Cease against lefty Matthew Boyd for Detroit. Cease is coming off tossing five shutout innings in his previous start, while Boyd has struggled – he has allowed 15 runs on 23 hits over 14 2/3 innings in three starts.

Injuries

Chicago White Sox

Aaron Bummer - 10-Day IL - Biceps

8/8 7:46 AM EST - Bummer (biceps) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Bummer was removed from Friday's win against Cleveland after throwing 30 pitches and will miss several games as a result of a left biceps strain. The southpaw had been dominant out of the bullpen for the White Sox to begin the season, recording a 1.23 ERA and 12:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings across seven appearances. Evan Marshall and Steve Cishek could see an uptick in higher-leverage opportunities while Bummer is sidelined.

Jake Burger - Out - Achilles

7/14 10:42 AM EST - Burger (Achilles) will play in a local St. Louis league to get game reps in this season, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Burger hasn't gotten any game action in since 2017 due to Achilles issues. With minor-league games cancelled this season, he'll have to turn elsewhere for reps. He hasn't been included in the White Sox's 60-man player pool but will be allowed to play independent ball in order to stay sharp.

Ryan Burr - Out - Elbow

7/14 10:54 AM EST - Burr (elbow) joined the White Sox's player pool Tuesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Burr is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent in June of 2019. He should be able to pitch at some point this season, though he's yet to impress at the big-league level, posting a 5.52 ERA in 29.1 innings over parts of two seasons.

Leury Garcia - 10-Day IL - Thumb

8/11 2:04 PM EST - Garcia was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a sprained left thumb. Following his injury on a head-first slide into first base Monday, Garcia underwent X-rays that came back negative. However, he'll spend at least 10 days on the shelf as he recovers. In his absence, Danny Mendick should see increased time at second base. Tim Anderson (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

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.

Reynaldo Lopez - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/9 2:52 PM EST - Lopez (shoulder) threw a side session Saturday, and manager Rick Renteria said "it went very well," James Fegan of The Athletic reports. The 26-year-old landed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation July 27, but he began his throwing program Wednesday. Lopez remains without an official timetable for his return, though he's clearly progressing in his recovery.

Nick Madrigal - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/7 9:49 AM EST - Madrigal hopes to be back on the field in two weeks after landing on the injured list with a separated left shoulder Wednesday, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. The White Sox originally stated that they hoped Madrigal would be back by the end of the month, but Madrigal's own timeline appears to be a bit more aggressive. Whether that's simply a case of the very common phenomenon of a player being optimistic about his own health or a meaningful change to his prognosis remains to be seen. Danny Mendick has started the last two games at second base in his absence.

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.

Yoan Moncada - Day-To-Day - Undisclosed

8/11 7:47 PM EST - Moncada may not be in the lineup Wednesday since he's been battling soreness for about a week, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. The 25-year-old has started the past 15 games at third base and went 0-for-5 Tuesday, ending a modest eight-game hit streak. It doesn't appear to be a serious concern, so Moncada shouldn't be out long, assuming he's held out of Wednesday's starting nine.

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

8/9 3:00 PM EST - Rodon (shoulder) played catch Saturday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. The left-hander was placed on the 10-day injured list with shoulder soreness Tuesday, but his quick return to throwing is a good sign for his recovery. Rodon remains without a timetable for his return, though he could rejoin the White Sox within a few weeks.

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.

Detroit Tigers

Dario Agrazal - 10-Day IL - Forearm

8/8 9:20 AM EST - Agrazal (forearm) will throw his first bullpen session Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. Agrazal is on track for a lengthy absence after he was diagnosed with forearm tendinitis at the end of July. However, the team could get a better idea of his status for the remainder of the 2020 season based on how his arm feels following his throwing sessions.

C.J. Cron - 10-Day IL - Knee

8/11 10:21 AM EST - Cron was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports. Cron left Monday's game against the White Sox with the injury, and it's evidently severe enough for him to be forced to sit for at least 10 days. His expected return date has not yet been announced. The cleanup hitter's absence will be a blow to a surprisingly competitive Tigers team, as he owned a strong .894 OPS despite a low .190 batting average. Willi Castro was recalled in a corresponding move.

Buck Farmer - 10-Day IL - Groin

8/10 11:50 AM EST - Farmer was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain Monday. Farmer bounced back Sunday following a rough appearance Friday, but he apparently didn't escape unscathed as he'll spend some time on the shelf. It's unclear how long he'll spend on the injured list, but Gregory Soto could step into more of a setup role in Detroit in Farmer's absence. Right-hander Beau Burrows was recalled by the Tigers in a corresponding move.

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.

Cameron Maybin - 10-Day IL - Quadriceps

8/8 9:24 AM EST - Maybin (quad) is doing full field work as he continues to recover, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. Maybin has been sidelined since the end of July with a right quadriceps strain. However, he's been able to work on both fielding and hitting recently. A timetable for his return hasn't been announced, but the 33-year-old appears to be tracking toward full health.

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

8/8 9:35 AM EST - Zimmermann (forearm) has progressed to playing long toss, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. Zimmermann is on the 45-day injured list as he recovers from a right forearm strain. The right-hander hasn't been ruled out for the season and should progress to bullpen sessions at some point. His status for the end of the regular season could start to come into focus once the team sees how he responds to an increased workload.

Tigers Expected Lineup

SP - Matthew Boyd

1. Niko Goodrum

2. Jonathan Schoop

3. Miguel Cabrera

4. Christin Stewart

5. Victor Reyes

6. Jeimer Candelario

7. Austin Romine

8. Dawel Lugo

9. JaCoby Jones

White Sox Expected Lineup

SP - Dylan Cease

1. Tim Anderson

2. Luis Robert

3. Jose Abreu

4. Yasmani Grandal

5. Edwin Encarnacion

6. Eloy Jimenez

7. Ryan Goins

8. Adam Engel

9. Danny Mendick

Top Picks From Each Team

Eloy Jimenez, White Sox: Jimenez has been the top run-producing threat in the White Sox lineup, leading the team in both home runs (four) and RBI (12) in 64 plate appearances. His .233 average doesn't stand out, but he should retain decent value as long as he can keep producing runs on a daily basis.

JaCoby Jones, Tigers: Jones has been the top offensive threat in a surprising Tigers team, and he is currently leading the team in most offensive metrics such as extra-base hits (nine), home runs (five) and RBI (12) while also slashing a strong .311/.380/.733 with a 1.113 OPS in 50 plate appearances.

Captaincy Options

1. Eloy Jimenez
2. JaCoby Jones
3. Luis Robert
4. Dylan Cease

Dream11 Team

P – Dylan Cease

C – Yasmani Grandal

IF – Jose Abreu

IF – Ryan Goins

IF – Jeimer Candelario

IF – Miguel Cabrera

OF – Eloy Jimenez (C)

OF – JaCoby Jones

OF – Luis Robert (VC)