Dream11 Fantasy NPB: Tigers at Swallows

Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1-3) vs Hanshin Tigers (1-3)

Wednesday, 24th June, 6:35 AM EDT

Projected starters

RHP Albert Suarez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP Joe Gunkel (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Preview

Both the Tigers and the Swallows have struggled at the start of the 2020 NPB season, both grabbing just one win in their first four contests. The Swallows will try to bounce back after dropping the series opener against the Tigers by a 4-1 score, in what was the Tigers' first win of the campaign. It will be a duel of right-handers in this contest, with the Swallows sending Albert Suarez while the Tigers will counter with Joe Gunkel. This will be Gunkel's debut in Japan after spending time in the minor leagues with the Miami Marlins' organization last year. He never reached the majors in his seven-year professional career in the United States. Suarez has a bit more experience in Japan, though it's not as if he has a long track record. He went 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 17.2 innings across four appearances for the Swallows in 2019.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows Expected Lineup

1B – Tomotaka Sakaguchi

2B – Tetsuto Yamada

LF – Norichika Aoki

3B – Munetaka Murakami

CF – Yasutaka Shiomi

RF – Yuhei Takai

SS – Alcides Escobar

C – Motohiro Shima

P – Albert Suarez

Hanshin Tigers Expected Lineup

RF – Yoshio Itoi

CF – Koji Chikamoto

3B – Jefry Marte

1B – Justin Bour

LF – Kosuke Fukudome

2B – Kento Itohara

SS – Seiya Kinami

C – Ryutaro Umeno

P – Joe Gunkel

Top picks

Jefry Marte, Tigers: There is no question Marte has started the season on a strong note, as he's slashing a robust .462/.563/.692 during his first 16 plate appearances, going 6-for-13 with a home run. He's making consistent contact and seeing the ball well, which is more than most of his teammates can say in a lineup that has struggled in the first few days of the season.

Tomotaka Sakaguchi, Swallows: Sakaguchi has been similarly hot through his first four games, posting a .429/.529/.429 slash line in his first 17 plate appearances. The leadoff man is a more of a contact hitter, but he can be quite productive as long as he can continue to get on base.

Justin Bour, Tigers: Bour has plenty of MLB experience under his belt, which is enough reason to believe he'll get going at the NPB level sooner rather than later. Bour is yet to record a hit in his first 16 at-bats, making him a risky pick, but he's too good of a hitter to continue this slump for a prolonged span.

Munetaka Murakami, Swallows: Murakami has been playing at a high level to start the season and has posted a .400/.500/.667 slash line in 18 plate appearances. It's a small sample size, of course, but it's an encouraging start for the 20-year-old, who won the Central League Rookie of the Year Award last season.

Captaincy Options

1. Jefry Marte

2. Tomotaka Sakaguchi

3. Justin Bour

Dream11 Team

P – Albert Suarez

C – Yudai Koga

IF – Jefry Marte (C)

IF – Justin Bour

IF – Jo Endo

IF – Taisei Yoshida

IF – Munetaka Murakami

OF – Tomotaka Sakaguchi (VC)

OF – Yoshio Itoi