Dream11 Fantasy Baseball: Rockies at Dodgers

Colorado Rockies (19-20) at Los Angeles Dodgers (30-11)

Sunday, September 6th, 10:10 PM EDT

Projected Starters

RHP Ryan Castellani (1-2, 4.81 ERA) vs LHP Julio Urias (3-0, 3.27 ERA)

Game Preview

The Rockies remain in contention for a spot in the MLB playoffs this season and, sitting just one game below .500, the next two weeks will be pivotal to learn the destiny of the franchise. The Dodgers, on the other hand, remain the team to beat in the National League and became the first team to reach the 30-win plateau – that is all you need to know about how dominant they have been this year. The Dodgers also have the edge in the pitching matchup, as lefty Julio Urias has been far better than in past years and owns a solid 3.27 ERA thus far. The Rockies will counter with Ryan Castellani, who has gone 1-2 with a 4.81 ERA to date. Castellani struggled in his previous start, however, allowing five runs in just two innings against the San Diego Padres.

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.

Jon Gray - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

9/4 3:46 PM EST - Gray was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Sept. 2. Gray was shelled by the Giants on Tuesday as he allowed seven runs on nine hits over 2.2 innings, and his injury could have contributed to his struggles. It's unclear how much time he's expected to miss as a result of his shoulder issue. Right-hander Jose Mujica was recalled from alternate camp and could take Gray's place in the starting rotation while he's sidelined.

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

9/2 10:34 AM EST - Rodgers' shoulder strain isn't considered to be a major injury, and he's expected to be able to throw within the next few days, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. Rodgers reportedly jammed his shoulder in a collision with Manny Machado while sliding into third base Saturday. Whether or not he'll be able to return when first eligible next Wednesday remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely that he'll wind up missing the rest of the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Yadier Alvarez - Out - 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.

Pedro Baez - 10-Day IL - Groin

9/2 5:48 PM EST - Baez (groin) will throw a bullpen session Thursday and could face live batters this weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. The 32-year-old completed a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, so he appears to be progressing quickly toward his return from the right groin strain. Baez may return from the injured list next week if all goes well in his next couple throwing sessions.

Joe Kelly - 10-Day IL - Shoulder

9/3 10:44 PM EST - Kelly (shoulder) will face live hitters this weekend and is likely to be activated next week, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports. Kelly tossed a bullpen session without complications Tuesday, so he appears to be recovered from the shoulder inflammation that landed him on the injured list Aug. 10. However, he won't be able to take the mound in game action until he first serves the five-game suspension that was handed to him as a result of a dust-up with the Astros in late July.

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 - Out - Undisclosed

8/12 9:10 AM EST - Reks (undisclosed) has not yet joined the team at its alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Reks has been away from the team since July 8, though the Dodgers have yet to give a reason for the outfielder's absence. The 26-year-old was included on the 60-man roster after a strong spring in which he hit .368/.556/.684 and drew eight walks.

Cody Thomas - Out - Undisclosed

8/12 9:15 AM EST - Thomas (undisclosed) still isn't with the Dodgers at their alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Thomas was included in the team's 60-man player pool after smashing five home runs during spring training, However, the outfielder missed most of summer camp, and the team has thus far withheld the reason for his absence.

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.

Justin Turner - 10-Day IL - Hamstring

9/4 7:00 AM EST - Turner (hamstring) is expected to come off the injured list before Tuesday's game against Arizona, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports. Turner was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 29) on Sept. 1. The Dodgers have an off day Monday, so a Tuesday return would mark a minimum IL stay for the third baseman. While Turner's return is imminent, the team is likely to take a cautious approach to his playing time down the stretch given his recent history of hamstring injuries. "We certainly have some off-days looking out later to September, so there's the balance of not red-lighting him, but also you got to ramp him up to get ready for the postseason so he's sharp," manager Dave Roberts said. "We'll thread the needle with that."

Edwin Uceta - Suspension - Not Injury Related

8/22 11:16 AM EST - Uceta broke security protocol and was suspended by the Dodgers, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Uceta had been working at the Dodgers' alternate training site, but he was recently sent home to the Dominican Republic and suspended by the team. Given travel restrictions amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it's unclear whether the right-hander will return to the team at any point in 2020. If he does, he's likely to remain with the alternate squad.

Dodgers Expected Lineup

SP - Julio Urias

1. Max Muncy

2. Mookie Betts

3. Chris Taylor

4. Cody Bellinger

5. Corey Seager

6. Joc Pederson

7. A.J. Pollock

8. Gavin Lux

9. Will Smith

Rockies Expected Lineup

SP - Ryan Castellani

1. Garrett Hampson

2. Trevor Story

3. Nolan Arenado

4. Charlie Blackmon

5. Kevin Pillar

6. Matt Kemp

7. Sam Hilliard

8. Josh Fuentes

9. Drew Butera

Top Picks / Captaincy Options

1. Mookie Betts - Dodgers
2. Max Muncy - Dodgers
3. Trevor Story - Rockies
4. Enrique Hernandez - Dodgers

Dream11 Team

P – Julio Urias

C – Keibert Ruiz

IF – Max Muncy (VC)

IF – Enrique Hernandez

IF – Nolan Arenado

IF – Trevor Story

OF – Mookie Betts (C)

OF – Cody Bellinger

OF – Charlie Blackmon