This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy NPB series.
Chunichi Dragons (5-6) vs Hanshin Tigers (2-9)
Thursday, July 2nd, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Yuichiro Okano (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs LHP Onelki Garcia (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dragons and the Tigers sit below the .500 mark, but there is no question the Dragons enter this matchup in a better run since they are just one game below that .500 threshold, while the Tigers own one of the worst records in the league with just two wins after their first 11 contests. Onelki Garcia will start for the Tigers in this one, and while he served up five earned runs in four innings in his 2020 debut, Garcia has been a serviceable starter on the whole in his two-plus years in NPB, posting a 3.75 ERA and 215 strikeouts over 276.1 innings. The Dragons will counter with Yuichiro Okano, who allowed five earned runs off eight hits while recording six strikeouts in his season debut against the BayStars.
Dragons' Expected Lineup
CF – Yohei Ohshima
RF – Ryosuke Hirata
LF – Zoilo Almonte
1B – Dayan Viciedo
3B – Shuhei Takahashi
2B – Toshiki Abe
SS – Yota Kyoda
C – Takuma Katoh
P – Yuichiro Okano
Tigers' Expected Lineup
CF – Koji Chikamoto
2B – Kento Itohara
RF – Yoshio Itoi
3B – Jefry Marte
1B – Justin Bour
LF – Jerry Sands
SS – Seiya Kinami
C – Ryutaro Umeno
P – Onelki Garcia
Top Picks
Toshiki Abe, Dragons: Abe has gone 12-for-42
Chunichi Dragons (5-6) vs Hanshin Tigers (2-9)
Thursday, July 2nd, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Yuichiro Okano (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs LHP Onelki Garcia (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dragons and the Tigers sit below the .500 mark, but there is no question the Dragons enter this matchup in a better run since they are just one game below that .500 threshold, while the Tigers own one of the worst records in the league with just two wins after their first 11 contests. Onelki Garcia will start for the Tigers in this one, and while he served up five earned runs in four innings in his 2020 debut, Garcia has been a serviceable starter on the whole in his two-plus years in NPB, posting a 3.75 ERA and 215 strikeouts over 276.1 innings. The Dragons will counter with Yuichiro Okano, who allowed five earned runs off eight hits while recording six strikeouts in his season debut against the BayStars.
Dragons' Expected Lineup
CF – Yohei Ohshima
RF – Ryosuke Hirata
LF – Zoilo Almonte
1B – Dayan Viciedo
3B – Shuhei Takahashi
2B – Toshiki Abe
SS – Yota Kyoda
C – Takuma Katoh
P – Yuichiro Okano
Tigers' Expected Lineup
CF – Koji Chikamoto
2B – Kento Itohara
RF – Yoshio Itoi
3B – Jefry Marte
1B – Justin Bour
LF – Jerry Sands
SS – Seiya Kinami
C – Ryutaro Umeno
P – Onelki Garcia
Top Picks
Toshiki Abe, Dragons: Abe has gone 12-for-42 this season (.286) while also posting a 333 on-base percentage. Those numbers don't exactly scream stardom, but he has been consistent enough to represent a strong captaincy alternative in a matchup without many enticing options.
Dayan Viciedo, Dragons: Viciedo has two home runs and five RBI this season – he currently leads the Dragons in long balls while ranking tied for second in runs driven in. He can produce despite the matchup and could take advantage of the Tigers' struggles here.
Justin Bour, Tigers: Bour seems to be turning things around and, despite the fact he owns a .200 average, he is trending in the right direction with his past performances. He is simply too good of a hitter for a longer period of time.
Yoshio Itoi: Itoi has been one of the most productive hitters in the Dragons roster despite the team's struggles. He enters this matchup with a .333 average and could be a source for offense in a lineup that has struggled to produce runs so far in 2020.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Yuichiro Okano
C – Ryutaro Umeno
IF – Toshiki Abe (C)
IF – Dayan Viciedo (VC)
IF – Justin Bour
IF – Hayato Mizowaki
OF – Yoshio Itoi
OF – Yohei Ohshima
OF – Zoilo Almonte
