Dream11 Fantasy NPB: Giants at Dragons

Yomiuri Giants (41-22-3) at Chunichi Dragons (32-31-4)

Wednesday, September 9th, 5:00 AM EDT

Projected Starters

Chunichi Dragons: RHP Yuichiro Okano (2-1, 4.82 ERA)

Yomiuri Giants: LHP Kazuto Taguchi (3-3, 4.40 ERA)

Game Preview

The Giants have won the last three games they've played against the Dragons and also edge them in the standings, so it's safe to say they could have the advantage in this matchup between two of the best teams in the Central League over the last few weeks. The Giants have been the class in the Central League all season long, though, and look like a bonafide title contender given what they've done in 2020. They won't have an edge in the pitching department, as they will start Kazuto Taguchi while the Dragons will counter with Yuichiro Okano. The Dragons' right-hander has slightly better numbers, but the matchup will be quite even.

Injuries

Ryosuke Hirata - Out - Elbow

7/23 1:30 AM IST - The Dragons deactivated Hirata on Monday due to a right elbow injury. One of the Dragons' more reliable batsmen over the past couple of seasons, Hirata was dropped from the active roster after struggling early on in the 2020 campaign. Over 73 plate appearances, Hirata was batting just .164. Masataka Iryo is expected to take over as the Dragons' primary option in right field in Hirata's stead.

Shun Ishikawa - Out - Hand

7/22 1:24 AM IST - Ishikawa was removed from the Dragons' active roster ahead of Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Giants due to cartilage damage in his left hand. The Dragons have yet to announce a timeline for Ishikawa's potential return to the active roster. The 30-year-old corner infielder has appeared in 11 games for Chunichi in 2020, going 3-for-10 with a triple and two RBI.

Shotaro Kasahara - Out - Oblique

7/31 3:09 AM IST - Kasahara was diagnosed with a right oblique injury Saturday and has been ruled out indefinitely. Oblique injuries often carry volatile timetables, but it's probably safe to expect the left-hander to be sidelined for multiple weeks. He went 3-2 over his eight outings with the Dragons this season, posting a 5.71 ERA in 34.2 innings.

Seiji Kobayashi - Out - Forearm

6/23 2:14 PM IST - Kobayashi will miss 3-to-4 weeks with a fractured left forearm, according to sponichi.co.jp. Kobayashi started the Giants' first and third games behind the plate, but he will not take the field again until sometime in July. Ginjiro Sumitani and Takumi Oshiro are in line to share the catching duties for the Giants until Kobayashi returns.

Kota Yamashita - Out - Hand

7/9 4:36 AM IST - Yamashita, who has been sidelined all season with a broken right hand, was able to complete some on-field activities Wednesday, Sponichi.co.jp reports. The 19-year-old outfielder/first baseman only has 13 career NPB plate appearances to his name, but manager Tatsunori Hara suggested Yamashita could be a candidate for an everyday role before he sustained the injury shortly before Opening Day. Yamashita was at least fortunate that the injury was to his non-throwing hand, so he may have a shorter recovery timeline than one normally associated with a fracture. He was able to hit off the tee and play catch Wednesday, so expect him to ramp up his activities in the weeks to come.

Chunichi Dragons Expected Lineup

1. Masataka Iryo

2. Yohei Ohshima

3. Toshiki Abe

4. Dayan Viciedo

5. Nobumasa Fukuda

6. Yota Kyoda

7. Takuma Katoh

8. Naomichi Donoue

9. Yuichiro Okano

Yomiuri Giants Expected Lineup

1. Naoki Yoshikawa

2. Hayato Sakamoto

3. Yoshihiro Maru

4. Kazuma Okamoto

5. Yoshiyuki Kamei

6. Hiroyuki Nakajima

7. Gerardo Parra

8. Ginjiro Sumitani

9. Kazuto Taguchi

Top Picks / Captaincy Options

1. Kazuma Okamoto – Giants
2. Dayan Viciedo - Dragons
3. Hayato Sakamoto – Giants
4. Zelous Wheeler – Giants

Dream11 Team

P – Kazuto Taguchi

C – Iori Katsura

IF – Kazuma Okamoto (C)

IF – Dayan Viciedo (VC)

IF – Zelous Wheeler

OF – Zoilo Almonte

OF – Masaru Watanabe

OF – Yohei Ohshima

OF – Yoshihiro Maru