Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Giants at Rockies

San Francisco Giants (18-19) at Colorado Rockies (17-19)

Wednesday, September 2nd, 3:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.35 ERA) vs LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.43 ERA)

Game Preview

The Rockies and the Giants combined for 28 runs when these two teams met on Tuesday night, although the Giants 23 of those runs in what was an explosive night for the Bay Area franchise. Both teams are looking to sneak into the NL Wild Card and, with both playing near the .500 threshold, winning here could be a decisive moment ahead of the final weeks of the campaign. The pitching matchup doesn't offer any dominant arm, with Kyle Freeland starting for Colorado and Logan Webb doing it for the Giants, although that might not matter much. All signs would seem to indicate the offense will dictate the outcome of this game again.

Injuries

Colorado Rockies

Ben Bowden - Out - Undisclosed

8/26 3:32 PM EST - Bowden suffered another injury while rehabbing a back injury at the Rockies' alternate training site, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports. The nature of Bowden's injury is unclear, but manager Bud Black said Wednesday that it's limited his availability at alternate camp. As a result, he's unlikely to appear in the majors during the abbreviated 2020 season. The southpaw had a 5.88 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with Triple-A Albuquerque last season, but he could make his major-league debut at some point once he's healthy.

Tim Collins - Out - Opt Out

7/27 10:51 AM EST - The Rockies announced Monday that Collins has elected to opt out of the 2020 season. Collins had been added to the Rockies' 60-man player pool in late June and was present for summer camp, but he failed to win a spot on the season-opening 30-man roster. Rather than waiting around at the Rockies' alternative training site for a potential callup to the big club, Collins will remove himself from the 60-man pool and pack it in for 2020. He's scheduled to become a free agent during the offseason.

David Dahl - 10-Day IL - Back

8/26 3:53 PM EST - Manager Bud Black said Dahl (back) is close to returning, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. Dahl landed on the injured list last week with a bout of lower-back soreness, but it sounds like he's nearing a return after facing teammate Chi Chi Gonzalez (biceps) in live batting practice Wednesday. Prior to landing on the shelf, the outfielder struggled to a .189/.238/.243 line across 19 games.

Wade Davis - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/26 4:04 PM EST - Davis (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. This is an encouraging step for Davis, who has been sidelined all month with a right shoulder strain. An updated timetable for the right-hander's return should come into focus once he's further along in his throwing program. In the meantime, Daniel Bard and Carlos Estevez are Colorado's top options for saves.

Ian Desmond - Out - Opt Out

6/29 7:35 PM EST - Desmond announced Monday via his personal Instagram account that he won't play in 2020 for personal reasons. Desmond will opt to sit out the 2020 season once play resumes to focus on civil rights issues and out of concerns about playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the fourth known player to do so. The 34-year-old has an expectant wife and four young children, and he outlined his concerns of playing during the pandemic. He was only expected to play against left-handed pitchers, so there will likely only be minor bumps in playing time for Sam Hilliard, Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers.

Joe Harvey - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/24 4:33 PM EST - Harvey (elbow) was placed on the 45-day injured list Monday. Harvey will miss the remainder of the 2020 season following this move. He suffered a right elbow sprain during Friday's outing. Harvey struck out two across 3.1 scoreless innings in four appearances prior to suffering the injury.

Peter Lambert - 60-Day IL - Elbow

7/23 9:41 AM EST - The Rockies announced Thursday that Lambert (elbow) recently underwent Tommy John surgery and was placed on the 45-day injured list. Lambert had previously developed a forearm strain late in spring training and apparently didn't fully move past the issue four months later at summer camp, prompting him to undergo the corrective procedure. Given the timing of his surgery, Lambert appears set to miss the entire 2021 campaign while rehabbing the elbow injury, though he should back to full strength for spring training in 2022.

Justin Lawrence - Out - Suspension

1/17 2:06 PM EST - Lawrence was handed an 80-game suspension Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports Lawrence split the 2019 season between Double-A and Triple-A and struggled at both levels with a combined 8.76 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 37 innings. The 25-year-old was added to the 40-man roster in November 2018 to be protected from the Rule 5 draft after a solid season, but the suspension and a rocky 2019 leaves his standing on the roster unstable at best.

Scott Oberg - 60-Day IL - Arm

8/2 10:59 AM EST - Oberg (back) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Sunday due to blood clots in his right arm. The 30-year-old was nearing his return from a back injury when he began feeling discomfort in his right hand and had trouble gripping the ball, and further evaluations revealed his blood clot issues have resurfaced. Oberg missed the final six weeks of 2019 due to the issue , and it's now the third time the problem has surfaced over the past few years. He'll be sidelined for the near future and may not pitch in 2020.

Chris Owings - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

8/20 9:24 AM EST - Owings was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a strained hamstring, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports. He exited a game last week with left hamstring tightness, and has since appeared in several games, but it sounds like he made the injury worse, despite going 2-for-4 in Wednesday's game. Brendan Rodgers was recalled and will start at second base Thursday against the Astros.

Brendan Rodgers - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/31 5:37 PM EST - Rodgers was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder capsular strain Monday. The infielder's placement on the injured list is retroactive to Sunday, so he could return as soon Sept. 9. The move shouldn't have a huge impact on the Rockies' lineup, as Rodgers has played in a backup role this season.

San Francisco Giants

Tyler Beede - 60-Day IL - Elbow

6/29 12:51 PM EST - The Giants placed Beede (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports. The transaction is merely procedural, as Beede has already been ruled out for the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. His move to the 60-day IL opens up an extra spot on the 40-man roster for the Giants.

Trevor Cahill - Day-To-Day - Hip

8/30 4:42 PM EST - Cahill's MRI revealed joint inflammation in his left hip, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Cahill exited Saturday's start early as a result of his hip issue. It's unclear whether the injury will force him to miss any turns through the rotation, but the Giants have some flexibility since they have two off days before Cahill would take the mound next. If he's forced to miss additional time, Drew Smyly (finger) or Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) could potentially return from the injured list to take his place.

Aramis Garcia - 60-Day IL - Hip

8/25 2:31 PM EST - Garcia (hip) is ramping up his baseball activity, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. He is recovering from a right hip labrum repair procedure and continues to rehab in Scottsdale. Garcia is progressing well, but even if he returns this season, it would likely be in a backup role.

Jordan Humphreys - Out - Personal

8/9 11:52 AM EST - Humphreys was placed on the restricted list Sunday. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Billy Hamilton last weekend, but he'll move to the restricted list before appearing for the team. It's unclear when Humphreys is expected to return to action.

Reyes Moronta - 60-Day IL - Shoulder

8/25 2:15 PM EST - Moronta (shoulder) could throw live batting practice as early as next week, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. He has been throwing bullpen sessions at the alternate training site as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. Given what he is returning from and where he stands in his rehab, we could see Moronta back in the majors sometime in September.

Buster Posey - Out - Opt Out

7/23 2:01 PM EST - The Giants placed Posey on the restricted list July 10. The transaction is just a procedural one after Posey announced that same day that he would sit out the 2020 season, citing concerns about how playing amid a pandemic could jeopardize the health of his newborn twins. The Giants are carrying two catchers (Tyler Heineman and Rob Brantly) on the Opening Day roster, but it's unclear if either of the two will act as the clear-cut No. 1 option behind the plate.

Joey Rickard - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/31 2:49 PM EST - Rickard was placed on the 45-day injured list with left elbow inflammation Monday. Rickard's contract was selected by the Giants on Wednesday, but his season will come to an end as a result of an elbow injury. The 29-year-old appeared in four games this season and went hitless with one walk and one run over five at-bats. It's unclear whether he'll be healthy by spring training in 2021.

Jeff Samardzija - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

8/30 2:00 PM EST - Samardzija (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Saturday and is on track to face hitters Tuesday at the Giants' alternate training site in Sacramento, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Samardzija hasn't thrown a competitive pitch since experiencing inflammation in his right shoulder following his last start with the Giants on Aug. 7, but he looks to be closing in on a return from the 10-day injured list. After completing two side sessions without incident, he'll take another step forward in his throwing program by facing hitters. If all goes well Tuesday, Samardzija could be a candidate to rejoin the San Francisco rotation as soon as Sept. 5 against Arizona, when the Giants may need a new pitcher to start in place of the injured Trevor Cahill (hip).

Austin Slater - 10-Day IL - Groin

8/30 2:07 PM EST - Manager Gabe Kapler said Slater (groin) is "progressing nicely" and is set to "begin ramping up his baseball activities" Monday at the Giants' alternate training site in Sacramento, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Slater looks to have just about moved past the strained left groin he suffered Aug. 21, but he'll still likely need at least a few more days' worth of workouts before the Giants feel comfortable activating him. Before going down with the injury, Slater had been a sneaky source of power and speed in a part-time role, supplying four home runs and six stolen bases over his 59 plate appearances.

Drew Smyly - 10-Day IL - Finger

8/30 1:57 PM EST - Smyly (finger) is slated to report to the Giants' alternate training site in Sacramento on Tuesday to face hitters, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) is scheduled to do the same Tuesday, as the two starting pitchers remain on similar timelines to rejoin the active roster. Smyly received the green light to head to the alternate site after he completed a successful bullpen session Saturday, his second of the week. If Smyly fares well while facing hitters Tuesday, he could be a candidate to return from the 10-day injured list next weekend, when the Giants could require a replacement in the rotation for Trevor Cahill (hip).

Rockies Expected Lineup

SP - Kyle Freeland

1. Raimel Tapia

2. Trevor Story

3. Charlie Blackmon

4. Nolan Arenado

5. Daniel Murphy

6. Ryan McMahon

7. Garrett Hampson

8. Sam Hilliard

9. Tony Wolters

Giants Expected Lineup

SP - Logan Webb

1. Mauricio Dubon

2. Donovan Solano

3. Mike Yastrzemski

4. Wilmer Flores

5. Evan Longoria

6. Brandon Belt

7. Joey Bart

8. Darin Ruf

9. Pablo Sandoval

Top Picks From Each Team

Alex Dickerson, Giants: Dickerson went 5-for-6 with three home runs, two doubles, five runs scored, six RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 23-5 destruction of the Rockies. He also joined Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter as the only big-leaguers to total three home runs and two doubles in one game. The five-hit game raised Dickerson's season average a full 40 points, from .221 to .261.

Trevor Story, Rockies: Story didn't play Tuesday after going hitless in two straight games, and those two contests snapped a nine-game hitting streak. The star shortstop hit .282 with a .879 OPS, six home runs, 15 extra-base hits and 15 RBI during the month of August.

Captaincy Options

1. Alex Dickerson
2. Mike Yastrzemski
3. Trevor Story
4. Brandon Belt

Dream11 Team

P – Logan Webb

C – Chadwick Tromp

IF – Brandon Belt

IF – Donovan Solano

IF – Nolan Arenado

IF – Trevor Story

OF – Mike Yastrzemski (VC)

OF – Alex Dickerson (C)

OF – Charlie Blackmon