Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Dodgers at Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2) at Arizona Diamondbacks (2-4)

Thursday, July 30th, 9:40 PM EDT

Projected starters

RHP Ross Stripling (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs LHP Robbie Ray (0-1, 7.36 ERA)

Game Preview

The Dodgers are coming off an impressive sweep of the Houston Astros earlier this week, while the Diamondbacks have won just two of their first six games of the season. At least on paper, the Dodgers are clearly the better side, so it makes sense to stack them up ahead of this matchup, especially considering Arizona's pitching struggles. Speaking of pitchers, the Dodgers will send Ross Stripling to the mound, while the Diamondbacks will counter with lefty Robbie Ray. Both players delivered opposite efforts in their first starts of the 2020 season. While Stripling posted a quality start – allowing one run in seven innings – against the San Francisco Giants, Ray lasted just 3.2 frames against the San Diego Padres, conceding a three-run homer and tossing 97 pitches in the process.

Injuries

Arizona Diamondbacks

Seth Beer - Out - Face

7/15 9:08 PM EST - Beer was diagnosed with a contusion after being hit in the face with a one-hopper during Wednesday's intrasquad game, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. Manager Torey Lovullo said the 23-year-old didn't sustain a concussion, so he appears to have escaped the situation with only a bruise. Beer missed some time early in summer training after testing positive for COVID-19, and he may take it easy for a couple days after Wednesday's incident.

Silvino Bracho - 60-Day IL - Elbow

7/5 6:11 PM EST - Bracho (elbow) has tested positive for COVID-19, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. Bracho was already placed on the 60-day injured list Monday as he continues to recover from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March of 2019. He suffered a setback in his recovery while play was suspended, so he might not be ready to play at any point in 2020. However, manager Torey Lovullo revealed Sunday that Bracho was one of three Diamondbacks to test positive for coronavirus, although he is asymptomatic.

Jon Duplantier - Out - Elbow

7/10 5:15 AM EST - Duplantier (elbow) is slowly ramping up a throwing program, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. Duplantier is working back from elbow soreness that cropped up in April. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said it's likely the right-hander will not be ready to go when the season begins July 24. As a rookie in 2019, Duplantier logged a 4.42 ERA over 36.2 innings mostly as a reliever. He was expected to serve in a starting role in 2020, though he is not currently part of the projected five-man rotation.

Mike Leake - Out - Opt Out

6/29 11:08 AM EST - Leake will opt out of participating in the 2020 season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. He was included on the initial version of the Diamondbacks' 60-man roster and would have been fighting for a rotation spot in July. While Leake is the first known player to opt out of playing this year, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Leake has made just shy of $95 million in his career and there are obviously health risks involved with playing during a pandemic. Alex Young now appears to be Arizona's sixth starter in case one of the top five guys gets injured. Leake says he looks forward to playing in 2021. Arizona will either pay him $18 million next season for the final year of his contract or buy him out for $5 million.

Domingo Leyba - Out - Suspension

3/6 12:13 PM EST - Leyba received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Leyba was called up for his major-league debut in September and made a quality first impression with a .280/.367/.440 slash line in 21 games, and he had a chance to begin the season in a utility role for the Diamondbacks. The 24-year-old will instead miss the first half of the season.

Corbin Martin - 10-Day IL - Elbow

7/23 8:52 AM EST - The Diamondbacks placed Martin (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. The Diamondbacks likely aren't counting on Martin being a major contributor in 2020 after he underwent Tommy John surgery last July, but the fact that he was included in the 60-man player pool at least implies that his rehab is going according to plan. He'll likely be a top candidate to shift to the 45-day IL at some point later this season in the event the Diamondbacks need to open up a spot on the 40-man roster.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Yadier Alvarez - Day-To-Day - Shoulder

3/2 2:33 PM EST - Alvarez (shoulder) cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to minor-league camp, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Alvarez was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Brewers after being unable to get loose. He's been sent for tests on his shoulder, the results of which aren't yet known. The shoulder scare was evidently enough to dissuade teams from taking a chance on him in waivers.

Morgan Cooper - Day-To-Day - Shoulder

4/7 3:56 AM EST - Cooper, who did not pitch in the minors last year due to shoulder tendinitis, is still sidelined and will embark on a throwing program later this month, MLB.com reports. Morgan, the 62nd overall pick in the 2017 draft, already had some concerns over his ability to hold up over a full season since he has a Tommy John surgery under his belt.

Anthony Garcia - Day-To-Day - Groin

7/14 2:11 PM EST - Garcia was held out of the Dodgers' intrasquad game Sunday due to a tight groin muscle, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Garcia hit a home run in intrasquad action Friday but was pulled Sunday after reporting the groin issue. The 28-year-old is unlikely to see much, if any, major-league playing time this season.

Clayton Kershaw - 10-Day IL - Back

7/28 9:54 PM EST - Kershaw (back) completed a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled for another session Thursday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Manager Dave Roberts previously indicated there was a chance the veteran southpaw could step into the rotation Friday at Arizona, but he'll instead throw another bullpen. Kershaw threw 32 pitches during Tuesday's session and another 25 pitches in an up-and-down, so he should continue building from there Thursday. The 32-year-old could rejoin the Dodgers early next week if the next time on the mound goes as planned.

Jimmy Lewis - Out - Shoulder

10/15 1:07 PM EST - Lewis was diagnosed with a slight tear in his labrum after signing with the Dodgers in June, which is why he has not yet pitched professionally, Bill Plunkett of Baseball America reports. Lewis was originally shut down during his senior year of high school with what was thought to be lat injury at the time, but tests revealed a more significant injury after he signed with the Dodgers for an over-slot $1.1 million after getting selected with the 78th overall pick. Surgery has not yet been deemed necessary. He has a very high ceiling but might not be ready to pitch early in the 2020 season.

Jimmy Nelson - 60-Day IL - Back

7/21 10:31 AM EST - Nelson (back) landed on the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports. The righty is set to undergo lumbar surgery, a procedure which will wipe out his 2020 season entirely. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers to add Jake McGee, who signed a major-league deal.

David Price - Out - Opt Out

7/4 1:48 PM EST - Price has elected not to play this season, he announced on his personal Twitter page Saturday. Price cited his health and his family's health as his reasons for sitting out the season during the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the highest-profile player thus far to opt out. He now won't be suiting up for his new team until the start of the 2021 season. His absence creates a hole in the Dodgers' rotation, with Dustin May looking like the most likely beneficiary.

Zach Reks - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/23 3:20 PM EST - Reks (undisclosed) did not make the Dodgers' 30-man roster. Reks has been on the 10-day injured list since July 8, and the team has not provided an update on his status. It's unclear how long Reks will be out or if he'll be sent to the team's alternate training site when he recovers.

Keibert Ruiz - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/23 3:23 PM EST - Ruiz (undisclosed) did not make the Dodgers' 30-man roster. Ruiz missed most of summer camp for an undisclosed reason and was never a serious candidate for a roster spot. He'll head to the team's alternate training site and serve as organizational depth this season.

Yaisel Sierra - Day-To-Day - Shoulder

4/4 3:47 PM EST - Sierra (shoulder) will begin the season at extended spring training, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Sierra is working his way back from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss all of last season. Farm directer Will Rhymes said the 27-year-old is "coming along," though he declined to offer up a timetable for Sierra's return. Once healthy, Sierra will likely report to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Cody Thomas - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/23 3:37 PM EST - Thomas (undisclosed) is not part of the Dodgers' 30-man roster. Thomas has been on the injured list since July 8 and did not make an appearance at the team's summer camp. The 25-year-old turned heads with a strong showing in Cactus League play, but he's not expected to make much of an impact at the major-league level this season.

Andrew Toles - Out - Personal

6/26 11:43 PM EST - Toles was arrested in Florida on Monday on a misdemeanor trespassing charge after he was found sleeping behind Key West International Airport and refused to leave, Gwen Filosa of the Miami Herald reports. In terms of baseball news, this incident furthers the belief that Toles is unlikely to return to the sport during the 2020 season. However, Toles' need for help clearly extends beyond baseball, and any hope of seeing him in a Dodgers uniform again should be superseded by the hope that he simply gets well. The 28-year-old has a documented history of dealing with anxiety and depression, and he essentially disappeared from baseball after leaving spring training last May to deal with a personal matter.

Edwin Uceta - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed

7/8 3:37 PM EST - Uceta was placed on the injured list Wednesday for undisclosed reasons, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. The team is unable to legally confirm if Uceta's absence is related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 22-year-old spent most of 2019 at Double-A Tulsa and had a 3.21 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 76:33 K:BB over 73 innings to earn a spot in the Dodgers' 60-player roster pool.

Alex Wood - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

7/28 10:22 AM EST - Wood was placed on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation Tuesday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. Wood generated some offseason hype after reports that a trip to Driveline Baseball had increased his velocity. That hype should have come with the caveat that there was no reason to believe his persistent injury problems would suddenly go away. He made just one poor start this season before landing on the injured list. It's not yet clear when he's expected to return. Josh Sborz will take his place on the active roster, while Dustin May will probably now remain in the rotation even after Clayton Kershaw (back) returns from the injured list.

Dodgers Expected Lineup

SP - Ross Stripling

1. Mookie Betts

2. Max Muncy

3. Justin Turner

4. Cody Bellinger

5. A.J. Pollock

6. Corey Seager

7. Chris Taylor

8. Enrique Hernandez

9. Will Smith

Diamondbacks Expected Lineup

SP - Robbie Ray

1. Ketel Marte

2. David Peralta

3. Starling Marte

4. Eduardo Escobar

5. Christian Walker

6. Kole Calhoun

7. Carson Kelly

8. Jake Lamb

9. Nick Ahmed

Top Picks From Each Team

Justin Turner, Dodgers: Turner has looked impressive in the early days of the 2020 MLB season, and he is hitting a robust .333 with a .429 on-base percentage and five RBI so gar. Plus, the third baseman is hitting .286 with two home runs and five RBI in 42 at-bats against Ray throughout his career.

Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks: Marte was a legit MVP candidate during the 2019 season, and he should be one of Arizona's main threats ahead of this contest. He has hit .235 in 17 at-bats against Stripling, but he has posted a .292 average with a .708 OPS in 2020. That's not even close to what he did in 2019 (32 HR, 92 RBI, .329/.389/.592, .981 OPS) but has hit safely in five of six games so far, so here are reasons for optimism.

Captaincy Options

1. Justin Turner
2. Mookie Betts
3. Ketel Marte
4. Enrique Hernandez

Dream11 Team

P – Ross Stripling

C – Stephen Vogt

IF – Max Muncy

IF – Justin Turner (C)

IF – Enrique Hernandez

IF – Ketel Marte

IF – Ildemaro Vargas

OF – Mookie Betts (VC)

OF – Cody Bellinger