Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Marlins at Nationals

Miami Marlins (9-9) at Washington Nationals (9-12)

Friday, August 21st, 6:05 PM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Daniel Castano (0-1, 4.35 ERA) vs LHP Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.91 ERA)

Game Preview

The Nationals and the Marlins entered the 2020 season with different expectations – while the Marlins have performed better than expected in the midst of their rebuilding process, Washington has not looked good and are a far cry from the team that won the World Series last season. In fact, the Nats are three games under the .500 threshold and the playoffs look further and further after each day. The pitching matchup favors the Nationals, however, with Patrick Corbin getting the nod for Washington and Daniel Castano will start for Miami. Corbin is clearly the better pitcher of the two and that's enough to make him a worthy selection in this contest.

Injuries

Miami Marlins

Sandy Alcantara - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/20 1:57 PM EST - Manager Don Mattingly said Alcantara looked "really good" in his simulated game Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. The skipper added that Alcantara -- who threw around 50 pitches -- is "moving in the right direction," though he didn't offer up a specific timetable for his return. Alcantara has been sidelined all month after testing positive for COVID-19 at the end of July.

Jorge Alfaro - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/18 1:04 PM EST - Alfaro was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Alfaro was one of the first Miami players who was known to have tested positive, as the team placed him on the injured list before the team's ill-fated season-opening series in Philadelphia. Though he's now made a full recovery from the coronavirus, the three-plus weeks of activity that he missed while waiting to clear all protocols means he'll likely need several days worth of workouts before Miami deems him ready to return from the IL. Once he's activated, Alfaro is expected to unseat Francisco Cervelli as the Marlins' top backstop.

Richard Bleier - 10-Day IL - Triceps

8/8 2:45 PM EST - Bleier was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left triceps strain Saturday. Bleier made just four appearances for the Marlins after coming over from the Orioles in a trade on the final day of July. It's not clear how much time he's expected to miss.

Jeff Brigham - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 3:41 PM EST - Brigham (undisclosed) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Brigham was among the 13 Marlins placed on the injured list ahead of the team's return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. However, a specific reason for Brigham's placement on the injured list wasn't announced.

Edward Cabrera - Out - Arm

7/27 11:20 AM EST - Cabrera hasn't been throwing at the Marlins' alternate training site over the past week due to a minor right arm injury, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. Miami was already without one of its starting pitchers (Jose Urena) due to a positive COVID-19 test, and the team's pitching staff could be further depleted after a surge in additional positive tests among Marlins players and coaches in recent days resulted in the postponement of Monday's home opener versus the Orioles. Cabrera would have been one of the prime candidates to fill any potential openings in the rotation that might exist, but his own injury will leave him out of the mix for the time being. The 22-year-old right-hander is viewed as one of the top arms in the Miami farm system after he submitted a 2.23 ERA and recorded 116 strikeouts over 96.2 innings between High-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville in 2019.

Adam Conley - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 3:59 PM EST - Conley (undisclosed) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Conley was among the 13 Marlins placed on the injured list ahead of the team's return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. However, a specific reason for Conley's placement on the injured list wasn't announced.

Garrett Cooper - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/18 1:10 PM EST - Cooper was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Cooper started in the Marlins' first two games of the season and went 2-for-7 with an RBI before he was shut down July 26, when he became one of the first known players on the roster to have tested positive. Though he's now made a full recovery from the coronavirus, the three-plus weeks of activity that he missed while waiting to clear all protocols means he'll likely need several days' worth of workouts before Miami deems him ready to return from the IL. Once he's activated, Cooper is expected to rotate with Jesus Aguilar between first base and designated hitter.

Isan Diaz - Out - Opt Out

8/4 4:39 PM EST - The Marlins placed Diaz on the restricted list Friday. Miami made the roster move after Diaz informed the club of his plans to opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. His placement on the restricted list cleared a spot on the 40-man roster and in the Marlins' 60-man roster pool.

Robert Dugger - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 4:04 PM EST - Dugger was placed on the 10-day injured list, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Dugger was among the 13 Marlins placed on the injured list ahead of the team's return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. However, a specific reason for Dugger's placement on the injured list wasn't announced.

Dax Fulton - Out - Elbow

6/11 2:17 PM EST - The Marlins have selected Fulton (elbow) with the 40th overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft. Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in September, Fulton is still the clear top prep lefty in this year's draft. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, he has rare size for a southpaw, and the expectation is that his low-90s fastball will tick up and become a true plus pitch in time. His best pitch is a plus curveball with excellent depth. His command and third-pitch changeup have a ways to go, but he could end up being one of the best pitchers in a historically deep pitching class if he hits his ceiling. He could be ready to throw off a mound by fall instructs.

Yimi Garcia - Covid-19 - Undisclosed

8/18 1:21 PM EST - Garcia was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Garcia appeared out of the bullpen in two of the Marlins' first three games before the club had its season postponed for eight days due to a team-wide coronavirus outbreak. The reliever was among those who contracted the virus, but he's since made a full recovery and has cleared all COVID-19-related protocols. He'll now turn his focus to getting his arm reconditioned for game action following a three-plus-week layoff, and once reinstated, Garcia should fill a key setup role in front of closer Brandon Kintzler.

Jordan Holloway - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/2 6:53 PM EST - Holloway was placed on the 10-day injured list for an undisclosed reason Sunday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. The Marlins didn't provide a reason for the transaction, and it's unclear whether Holloway's absence is related to the team's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The right-hander made his major-league debut Sunday against the Phillies, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk while recording one out in relief. Pitchers James Hoyt and Brian Moran were added in corresponding moves.

Brian Moran - 10-Day IL - Kneecap

8/18 2:24 PM EST - Moran was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right knee patella tendinitis. Moran had struggled over his past two relief appearances as he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over one-third of an inning. The injury could help provide an explanation for his poor performance. It's unclear how long the southpaw will be sidelined as a result.

Mike Morin - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/18 2:08 PM EST - Morin (elbow) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Tuesday. Morin landed on the injured list with a UCL injury in his right elbow Friday. His move to the 45-day injured list means that he will likely miss the remainder of the regular season, and the transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. The right-hander was effective over a limited sample this season, firing four scoreless innings while allowing one hit and one walk. He recorded two strikeouts.

Nick Neidert - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 4:01 PM EST - Neidert (undisclosed) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Neidert was among the 13 Marlins placed on the injured list ahead of the team's return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. However, a specific reason for Neidert's placement on the injured list wasn't announced.

Harold Ramirez - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/18 1:14 PM EST - Ramirez was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Ramirez started in right field in the Marlins' first two games of season before he was shut down following his positive test for the coronavirus. Though he's now made a full recovery from the coronavirus, the three-plus weeks of activity that he missed while waiting to clear all protocols means Ramirez likely need several days worth of workouts before Miami deems him ready to return from the IL. Once he's activated, Ramirez will likely settle into the short side of a platoon in the corner outfield with either Matt Joyce or Corey Dickerson.

Sean Rodriguez - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 3:57 PM EST - Rodriguez was placed on the 10-day injured list for an undisclosed reason Tuesday, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. The Marlins didn't provide a reason for Tuesday's move, and if his absence is related to the team's COVID-19 outbreak, the team wouldn't legally be allowed to say so without Rodriguez's permission. The 35-year-old hadn't appeared in any of the Marlins' first three games this season, and it's unclear when he'll return to the field. Rodriguez hit .223/.348/.375 with 24 runs, 12 RBI and 41 strikeouts over 76 appearances with the Phillies last year.

Caleb Smith - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/18 12:53 PM EST - Smith was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Along with Smith, fellow starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Jose Urena are among the players who tested positive that are now ready to prepare for returns to the active roster. Because none of the three pitchers have seen any game action since late July, they'll all likely require a week or more to get their arms reconditioned for starting duty. The Marlins aren't exactly overflowing with ideal replacements in the rotation at the moment, so it's possible Smith gets activated sooner than expected and handles limited pitch counts in his initial appearances.

Ryne Stanek - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 4:00 PM EST - Stanek (undisclosed) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Stanek was among the 13 Marlins placed on the injured list ahead of the team's return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. However, a specific reason for Stanek's placement on the injured list wasn't announced.

Drew Steckenrider - 60-Day IL - Triceps

7/23 10:17 AM EST - Steckenrider was placed on the 45-day injured list Thursday with right triceps tendinitis, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports. It's unclear when Steckenrider picked up the injury, but it will keep him sidelined for a good chunk of the shortened 2020 season. The right-hander figures to fill a middle-relief role if he returns at some point later in the season.

Jose Urena - Covid-19 - Not Injury Related

8/18 12:54 PM EST - Urena was one of 18 Marlins that tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season who received clearance Saturday to resume baseball activities at the team's alternate training site in Jupiter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Along with Urena, fellow starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Caleb Smith are among the players who tested positive that are now ready to prepare for returns to the active roster. Because none of the three pitchers have seen any game action since late July, they'll all likely require a week or more to get their arms reconditioned for starting duty. The Marlins aren't exactly overflowing with ideal replacements in the rotation at the moment, so it's possible Urena gets activated sooner than expected and handles limited pitch counts in his initial appearances.

Pat Venditte - 10-Day IL - Oblique

8/20 11:46 AM EST - Venditte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique. Venditte suffered the injury earlier in the week, and an MRI on Wednesday confirmed the severity of the issue. The Marlins have not offered up a timetable for Venditte's return, though he'll be eligible for activation at the end of August should he prove ready. Miguel Rojas was activated from the IL on Thursday in a corresponding move.

Alex Vesia - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/2 6:46 PM EST - Vesia was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday for an undisclosed reason, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. The Marlins provided no reason for the transaction, and it's unclear whether Vesia's absence is related to the team's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The southpaw took a loss in his MLB debut in the team's second game of the season, and the length of his stay on the injured list remains to be seen. The Marlins added pitchers James Hoyt and Brian Moran in corresponding moves.

Chad Wallach - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

8/4 4:02 PM EST - Wallach was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday for an undisclosed reason, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports. Wallach earned an Opening Day roster spot as the Marlins' third catcher, but he'll be sidelined after Tuesday's move. The team didn't provide an explanation for the transaction. If his absence is related to the COVID-19 outbreak among the team's players, the Marlins wouldn't be allowed to say so without his permission. Francisco Cervelli and Ryan Lavarnway should handle the catching duties with Wallach on the injured list.

Washington Nationals

Tres Barrera - Suspension - Suspension

7/25 8:22 AM EST - Barrera was suspended 80 games Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Barrera wasn't expected to serve on the Nationals' major-league roster this season, but he'll be forced to sit out the entire 2020 campaign and part of next season. The catcher played most of the 2019 season with Double-A Harrisburg, where he hit .249/.323/.381 with eight home runs and 46 RBI.

Welington Castillo - Out - Opt Out

7/22 9:53 AM EST - The Nationals placed Castillo (opt out) on the restricted list July 4. Washington made the transaction official one day after manager Dave Martinez told the media that Castillo became the third player to sit out the 60-game season. Castillo joined the Nationals in January on a one-year deal, so he'll head to the open market at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign.

Starlin Castro - 10-Day IL - Wrist

8/18 2:01 PM EST - Castro will have surgery to repair his broken right wrist, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Castro broke his wrist while making a diving play Friday, and the injury should sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. The 30-year-old told manager Dave Martinez that he'd be ready if the Nationals were to make the playoffs. Luis Garcia should continue to see the bulk of the playing time at second base.

Mason Denaburg - Out - Shoulder

7/7 6:32 AM EST - Denaburg (shoulder) said Tuesday that he expects to resume throwing bullpen sessions in the next three weeks, Byron Kerr of MASNSports.com reports. The 2018 first-round pick has been pleased thus far with how he's progressed since undergoing arthroscopic right shoulder surgery last October. Denaburg plans to gradually increase his long-toss distance off flat ground through the end of July, and then get back on the mound for the first time since last summer. If the 20-year-old can steer clear of any major setbacks in his throwing program during the upcoming offseason, he should head into the 2021 minor-league season at full strength.

Sean Doolittle - 10-Day IL - Knee

8/19 1:35 PM EST - Manager Dave Martinez said Doolittle (knee) could face live hitters Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Doolittle has been sidelined for a little more than a week with right knee inflammation, but he felt alright during a 20-pitch throwing session Wednesday and could ramp things up this weekend if he checks out OK in the coming days. A possible return date for the right-hander should emerge after Friday's session against live hitters.

Roenis Elias - 60-Day IL - Forearm

8/13 11:21 AM EST - Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Thursday that Elias felt renewed pain in his left forearm during a recent throwing session, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Elias opened the season on the 45-day injured list with a left flexor strain, but the Nationals were optimistic that the injury would keep him sidelined for the minimum amount of time. Now that Elias has experienced a setback in his throwing program, the team no longer appears to be counting on the southpaw being ready to go when he's first eligible for activation in early September. With two other lefty relievers (Sean Doolittle and Sam Freeman) joining Elias on the injured list Thursday, Seth Romero is the last southpaw left standing in the Washington bullpen.

Sam Freeman - 60-Day IL - Elbow

8/14 4:36 PM EST - Freeman (elbow) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Friday, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports. Freeman was placed on the injured list with a left flexor mass strain Thursday, but the injury was apparently more serious than originally thought as he'll now miss the remainder of the regular season. The southpaw tossed five scoreless innings across seven appearances this season but struggled to limit baserunners with a 1.80 WHIP.

Steven Fuentes - Suspension - Suspension

7/16 5:20 PM EST - Fuentes was cleared to train and will be headed to Fredericksburg on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Fuentes and Joan Adon both will head to Fredericksburg to join their teammates and begin training for the upcoming regular season. Washington added Fuentes to their 60-man player pool earlier this summer to ensure that he will finish serving his 50-game suspension when the 2021 season arrives. The 23-year-old was having a breakout 2019 campaign before testing positive for a banned stimulant, posting a 2.69 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 63:15 K:BB across 63.2 innings for Double-A Hagerstown.

Howie Kendrick - Day-To-Day - Hamstring

8/20 7:54 AM EST - Kendrick (hamstring) could rejoin the lineup Friday against the Marlins, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. Thanks to Wednesday's postponement due to rain and Thursday's scheduled off day, Kendrick will have plenty of time to heal up by Friday. Manager Dave Martinez believes the veteran could have pinch hit if needed Tuesday, a strong sign that he's nearing a return to action. Kendrick is slashing .300/.333/.380 through 14 games with a homer and six RBI.

Joe Ross - Out - Opt Out

6/29 12:16 PM EST - Ross is expected to opt out of joining the Nationals for the 2020 season, sources tell Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. Ross is the second known player who is expected to forgo playing in 2020 due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic after Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake announced his intentions earlier Monday. As a result, Ross will forgo his $1.5 million salary for 2020 before heading into his final year of salary arbitration in 2021. Ross had been a leading candidate for the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation, but his decision to sit out the season could lead to more starting opportunities for Austin Voth and Erick Fedde.

Adrian Sanchez - 7-Day IL - Achilles

6/29 9:40 AM EST - Updating a previous report, the Nationals relayed Monday that Sanchez (Achilles) was placed on the minor-league injured list and isn't included as part of the big club's 60-man player pool, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. The Nationals had previously announced Sunday that Sanchez had been placed on the 60-day injured list after tearing his right Achilles' tendon in a workout a few weeks ago. However, because he was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg in late March before he suffered the injury, he'll revert to the minor-league IL rather than the MLB team's IL. Unfortunately for Sanchez, the transaction means he won't be eligible for major-league payment and service time while he recovers from surgery that will keep him sidelined throughout the 2020 season, and likely, a decent chunk of the 2021 campaign. The move still leaves one spot open on the 40-man roster for the Nationals, though the team won't be extended an extra spot in the 60-man player pool to replace Sanchez.

Stephen Strasburg - 10-Day IL - Hand

8/15 9:45 AM EST - Strasburg was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with carpal tunnel neuritis in his right hand, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Strasburg has dealt with a nerve issue in his right hand since the beginning of the season, and it flared up during the first inning of Friday's game against the Orioles. Although he pitched through the injury over the past few weeks, he'll now get some time to recover before heading back to the mound. It's unclear how long Strasburg will be sidelined as a result of the injury.

Ryan Zimmerman - Out - Opt Out

6/29 12:31 PM EST - Zimmerman informed the Nationals on Monday that he has opted out of playing in the 2020 season, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports. Zimmerman's decision comes less than a week after he outlined his concerns about how playing during the COVID-19 pandemic could compromise the immune systems of his wife and newborn baby in an essay posted by the Associated Press. Along with Zimmerman, teammate Joe Ross has also elected not to play in 2020, leaving the Nationals with less depth at first base and in the rotation, respectively. With Zimmerman out of the mix, the Nationals could lean more heavily on Howie Kendrick as the primary platoon mate at first base with the left-handed-hitting Eric Thames. Zimmerman will forgo his $6.25 million salary in 2020 and hit free agency in the offseason, but it's unclear if the soon-to-be 37-year-old will have interest in resuming his career in 2021.

Nationals Expected Lineup

SP - Patrick Corbin

1. Trea Turner

2. Adam Eaton

3. Asdrubal Cabrera

4. Juan Soto

5. Howie Kendrick

6. Luis Garcia

7. Eric Thames

8. Kurt Suzuki

9. Victor Robles

Marlins Expected Lineup

SP - Daniel Castano

1. Jonathan Villar

2. Jesus Aguilar

3. Francisco Cervelli

4. Brian Anderson

5. Miguel Rojas

6. Logan Forsythe

7. Lewis Brinson

8. Jon Berti

9. Monte Harrison

Top Picks From Each Team

Juan Soto, Nationals: Soto enters this game in a seven-game hitting streak, and the star slugger has notched five homers, 11 RBI, four multi-hit games and a 1.639 OPS in that stretch. The outfielder has been one of the most dominant players in the National League this season and fully deserves a captaincy role.

Jesus Aguilar, Marlins: Aguilar is riding a three-game hitting streak but has been one of the best hitters for the Marlins all season long. The slugging infielder is hitting .290 with three homers and 14 RBI in 62 at-bats this month.

Captaincy Options

1. Juan Soto
2. Jesus Aguilar
3. Patrick Corbin
4. Trea Turner

Dream11 Team

P – Patrick Corbin (VC)

C – Yan Gomes

IF – Jesus Aguilar

IF – Carter Kieboom

IF – Trea Turner

OF – Juan Soto (C)

OF – Adam Eaton

OF – Jonathan Villar

OF – Lewis Brinson