Dream11 Fantasy NPB: Tigers at Dragons

Hanshin Tigers (14-14-1) at Chunichi Dragons (12-19-1)

Sunday, July 26th, 1:00 AM EDT

Projected Starters

Chunichi Dragons: Kodai Umetsu (2-3, 5.60 ERA)

Hanshin Tigers: LHP Yuta Iwasada (2-1, 3.54 ERA)

Game Preview

After the first few weeks of action in the NBP, it's clear neither the Dragons nor the Tigers are likely to contend for a playoff spot in the Central League. While the Dragons are in late place and coming off a 2-3 record in their last five contests, the Tigers have not fared much better and sit just two wins above them while posting a 2-2-1 record in their last five games. The pitching matchup in this one will feature a righty, Kodai Umetsu, and a lefty in Yuta Iwasada. It's safe to say both hurlers have struggled so far in 2020. The righty Umetsu carries a 5.60 ERA and 26:17 K:BB to begin the season. Meanwhile, the southpaw Iwasada has a 3.54 ERA and 23:9 K:BB over his first five starts this season.

Injuries

Zoilo Almonte - Out - Side

7/3 2:43 PM IST - Almonte was removed from the Dragons' active roster after suffering a side injury Thursday. Almonte hit a ball off his side in Thursday's contest, and he'll be examined Saturday to determine the severity. He'll have to spend at least 10 days off the roster as he recovers. Almonte has a .317 OBP with one home run and five RBI over his first 12 games of 2020.

Joe Gunkel - Out - Back

7/14 2:41 PM IST - Gunkel was removed from the Tigers' active roster Tuesday after experiencing back tightness during pregame warmups. Gunkel had made one start for the Tigers this season, but he'll have to wait until he's able to pitch again. The severity of the injury is unclear, but the right-hander will be forced to miss at least 10 days as a result of the injury. Gunkel allowed three runs while striking out three over four innings in his first start this year.

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.

Yuya Yanagi - Out - Abdomen

7/10 5:56 AM IST - The Dragons deactivated Yanagi on Thursday due to a right abdominal strain, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Yanagi experienced pain in his side while working out Wednesday, one day after he tossed 121 pitches and struck out 10 over seven innings of one-run ball in a no-decision versus the Swallows. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.80 with the excellent outing, but it looks like he'll now have to skip at least his next turn through the rotation and wait until the injury heals up before building on the momentum. The Dragons promoted pitcher Yu Satoh to take Yanagi's spot on the active roster.

Dragons' Expected Lineup

SP - Kodai Umetsu

1. Yohei Ohshima

2. Ryosuke Hirata

3. Ariel Martinez

4. Dayan Viciedo

5. Shuhei Takahashi

6. Toshiki Abe

7. Yota Kyoda

8. Takuma Katoh

9. Kodai Umetsu

Tigers' Expected Lineup

SP - Yuta Iwasada

1. Koji Chikamoto

2. Kento Itohara

3. Yoshio Itoi

4. Yusuke Ohyama

5. Justin Bour

6. Jerry Sands

7. Ryutaro Umeno

8. Seiya Kinami

9. Yuta Iwasada

Top Picks

Jerry Sands, Tigers: Sands represents a cheap alternative for users looking to round up lineups, but he is also very productive and enters this matchup with a .292/.378/.583 slash line, while adding five home runs and 15 RBI.

Justin Bour, Tigers: Bour's biggest asset is his raw power to all fields, and he has put that up on display in the current 2020 NPB season. He has five homers and 13 RBI, although his .253 average isn't as good as Sands'.

Dayan Viciedo, Dragons: Viciedo should represent the best offensive threat in the Dragons lineup, especially with Zoilo Almonte dealing with an injury. The slugging first baseman is hitting .305 with nine home runs and 25 RBI during the current season.

Yuta Iwasada, Tigers: Iwasada is undoubtedly the best pitching alternative in this duel, and it also helps that the Tigers have the strongest lineup – at least on paper. Iwasada has a 3.54 ERA and 23:9 K:BB over his first five starts this season.

Captaincy Options

1. Jerry Sands
2. Justin Bour
3. Dayan Viciedo

Dream11 Team

P – Yuta Iwasada

C – Ryutaro Umeno

IF – Dayan Viciedo

IF – Justin Bour (VC)

IF – Kento Itohara

OF – Yohei Ohshima

OF – Jerry Sands (C)

OF – Yoshio Itoi

OF – Ryosuke Hirata