This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy NPB series.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows (4-5) vs Hiroshima Toyo Carp (5-3)
Wednesday, July 1st, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Albert Suarez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs LHP Kris Johnson (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Game Preview
The first game of the series between these two sides got postponed, so this will be the first time the Swallows and the Carp face each other this season. The Carp have performed slightly better over the course of the year, winning five games to the Swallows' four, and they finished 11.5 games ahead of the visitors last season as well. The pitching matchup will feature Albert Suarez and Kris Johnson, two former MLB pitchers who are are coming off different results in their first starts of the 2020 campaign. While Suarez tossed six scoreless innings with four strikeouts en route to a win, Johnson allowed three runs in five innings while taking the loss.
Swallows Expected Lineup
1B – Tomotaka Sakaguchi
2B – Tetsuto Yamada
LF – Norichika Aoki
3B – Munetaka Murakami
CF – Yasutaka Shiomi
RF – Yuhei Takai
SS – Alcides Escobar
C – Motohiro Shima
P – Albert Suarez
Carp Expected Lineup
LF – Jose Pirela
2B – Ryosuke Kikuchi
CF – Ryoma Nishikawa
RF – Seiya Suzuki
3B – Alejandro Mejia
C – Tsubasa Aizawa
1B – Shota Dobayashi
SS – Kosuke Tanaka
P – Kris Johnson
Top Picks
Munetaka Murakami, Swallows: Murakami heads into this game with an excellent .364/.447/.636 slash line through his first 38 plate appearances. He's
Tokyo Yakult Swallows (4-5) vs Hiroshima Toyo Carp (5-3)
Wednesday, July 1st, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Albert Suarez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs LHP Kris Johnson (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Game Preview
The first game of the series between these two sides got postponed, so this will be the first time the Swallows and the Carp face each other this season. The Carp have performed slightly better over the course of the year, winning five games to the Swallows' four, and they finished 11.5 games ahead of the visitors last season as well. The pitching matchup will feature Albert Suarez and Kris Johnson, two former MLB pitchers who are are coming off different results in their first starts of the 2020 campaign. While Suarez tossed six scoreless innings with four strikeouts en route to a win, Johnson allowed three runs in five innings while taking the loss.
Swallows Expected Lineup
1B – Tomotaka Sakaguchi
2B – Tetsuto Yamada
LF – Norichika Aoki
3B – Munetaka Murakami
CF – Yasutaka Shiomi
RF – Yuhei Takai
SS – Alcides Escobar
C – Motohiro Shima
P – Albert Suarez
Carp Expected Lineup
LF – Jose Pirela
2B – Ryosuke Kikuchi
CF – Ryoma Nishikawa
RF – Seiya Suzuki
3B – Alejandro Mejia
C – Tsubasa Aizawa
1B – Shota Dobayashi
SS – Kosuke Tanaka
P – Kris Johnson
Top Picks
Munetaka Murakami, Swallows: Murakami heads into this game with an excellent .364/.447/.636 slash line through his first 38 plate appearances. He's added two home runs and six RBI so far this season.
Jose Pirela, Carp: Pirela has gone 14-for-42 so far in 2020, with his .333 average coming in as one of the highest on the Carp's roster. He represents one of the team's best chances to produce runs against a tough hurler in Suarez.
Albert Suarez, Swallows: Suarez delivered a strong effort in his first outing of the season, tossing six scoreless innings and looking quite composed on the mound. He should deliver another solid performance Wednesday, though the Carp present a strong opponent, sitting third in the league in runs per game.
Tetsuto Yamada, Swallows: Yamada has stood out so far due to his power, as he has four home runs with 11 RBI in just 35 at-bats. He's also shown a good eye at the plate, producing a .375 on-base percentage and is a threat on the basepaths as well, stealing three bases.
Captaincy Options
2. Jose Pirela
Dream11 Team
P – Albert Suarez
C – Shogo Sakakura
IF – Munetaka Murakami (C)
IF – Tetsuto Yamada
IF – Alejandro Mejia
OF – Jose Pirela (VC)
OF – Norichika Aoki
OF – Tsuyoshi Ueda
OF – Shota Nakayama
