After looking at all of the tools available at FantasyAlarm, the example lineups page should be used to help validate your thoughts, as well as help you consider some options that may not have been on your radar for the slate. In addition to the example lineups, below you will find a breakdown of possible routes to take when building your MLB lineups tonight. While we are focused on FanDuel and DraftKings, this breakdown can be used for all sites. Please use our live chat feature to share your thoughts, and receive any feedback leading up to first pitch. Good luck!
Please note that this was written before all lineups have been posted, which may open up new routes to consider.
Pitching
I always start my lineup building with pitching, as it’s the most important part of building your lineups. I tend to look for pitchers who I believe can pitch six innings, strike out six, and give up no more than two runs. Feel free to set up whatever parameters you want to, but should set yourself some type of “floor” when it comes to how you select your pitchers.
Although I really don’t want to do this on a wide-open slate like tonight is for hitting, but if playing cash games, I feel like you should pay up for one of the top priced options tonight on FD. Although all are in play, I prefer Michael Foltynewicz and Eduardo Rodríguez slightly more than Miles Mikolas , Lance McCullers , and Aaron Nola . FD has plenty of value hitters which makes all of the top pitchers affordable tonight if you prefer one over the other.
DK adjust their pricing for pitchers based on the slate, which typically makes it hard to fit in two of the five pitchers listed above in your lineups. There are some cheap options in the Cubs/Brewers game, but think you can go higher in price with Clay Buchholz or Adam Plutko . I do like Tyler Chatwood on DK, and Chris Stratton on FD if looking to go cheap for gpp’s.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: Our pitching coach, Tom Vecchio, likes Nola and Mikolas if paying up, McCullers and Plutko as mid-priced options, and Odorizzi and Garcia as value plays.
Our projections have Rodriguez leading the way, followed by Nola, Folty, McCullers, and Mikolas. Chase Anderson is the top value play listed for both sites.
Top Hitting Targets
There are plenty of other routes to take with details given in the playbook, coaches, and our other tools if wanting to look elsewhere. I provided my overall options in the playbook, with some additional thoughts below.
The Indians, Red Sox, and Yankees continue to be the teams to target tonight, but as mentioned in the playbook, I feel like there are many routes to take if you want to avoid, or can’t pay up for those teams listed above.
The Cubs/Brewers game will likely be a popular target, as well as the Astros and Cardinals. On a slate like tonight, I would look towards finding a value tam or two to target tonight for salary relief. The Reds/Royals game, and the Rays fill that role for me.
I listed plenty of top priced catchers in the playbook due to many of them having plus matchups. I typically use this spot for salary relief, but could use any number of the top options depending on which teams you are targeting. If wanting more of a mid-priced stand alone, Tucker Barnhart and Wilson Ramos seem to make the most sense.
As mentioned in the playbook, this slate offers plenty of solid options without fully having to spend up in any spot. Having said that, many of the top priced players are also in great spots tonight. Freddie Freeman , Joey Votto , and Anthony Rizzo are all in great spots, but so is a hot hitting Jose Martinez for cheaper. If looking cheaper, or for stacking, Eric Thames , Miguel Cabrera , and Jakob Bauers are all in play for me.
Second base is Brian Dozier or José Altuve if looking to pay up. FD has some cheap options with Jedd Gyorko , Ben Zobrist , or Daniel Descalso , but DK is wide open with plenty of great players right at or under the $4K mark. That includes Eduardo Núñez , who slides into the leadoff spot for the Red Sox. Pivot to Whit Merrifield if looking to be different.
Similar to first base, players like José Ramírez and Kris Bryant are top options if you can afford them, but Max Muncy is swinging a hot bat for cheaper. Can also pivot to Jake Lamb on FD, or continue to ride Matt Carpenter on DK. Matt Duffy , as well as the Giants provide solid salary relief at third base as well.
While not confirmed yet, Carlos Correa will be my FD plug and play if in the Houston lineup. If not, although I like some top priced options, I’ll likely use this spot for salary relief with Brandon Crawford if I can afford him, and Willy Adames or Ketel Marte if punting. Maybe Jurickson Profar in a late night DK contest.
OF is always wide open in terms of routes to consider taking. If not stacking, I prefer to pay up for one spot, punt the other, and use the last spot to pick a player from a team that I’m already targeting. OF is open today in terms of routes to take. If paying up, I do prefer J.D. Martínez and Andrew Benintendi more than options in the WSH/NYY game. Mike Trout and Matt Kemp both make for solid late night options, while players like Scott Schebler , Curtis Granderson , Marcell Ozuna , Jason Heyward , and Andrew McCutchen lead the list of mid to cheaper options in play tonight. If stacking, a Michael Brantley , Tommy Pham , or George Springer would also be in play for me.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: Our hitting coach, Jon Impemba, likes Martinez and Votto if paying up, Cron, Crawford, and Ozuna as his top mid-priced options, and Adrianza and Chisenhall as his favorite value plays.
Our projections have Martinez and Benintendi as a one two combo at the top from the Red Sox. Schebler, Brantley, and Trout round out the top five. McCutchen and Carlos Gómez lead the value options on FD, while Kepler and Pillar are the top DK ones.
GPP
If playing gpp’s, your best approach is stacking. Pick a game, or two teams that you think will blast off, then go all in on them. Yes, entering your cash lineup, or another type of lineup can cash in a gpp, but if looking to finish in the top 1%, you need to hit with a stack. Of the teams listed above as the top targets, I like a mix of Cleveland and St. Louis bats, while the Royals and Rays will be my stack if paying up for pitching.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: Our stacking coach, James Grande, likes the Red Sox as his top stack, with the White Sox and Twins as his top contrarian stacks.
Final Thoughts
FanDuel: Will likely go with either Folty or Rodriguez as my pitcher, but any of the top priced ones are in play. Muncy, Correa, Jedd, and J.D. will leave you with roughly $3K four the final four spots. Can switch out Muncy with cheaper in order to get Benintendo or Trout.
DraftKings: I think gpp’s are the way to go on DK tonight, but I would try to spend around $20K on pitching if playing cash games. Add in a Barnhart and Adames and you’ll have roughly $4K for the rest of your hitting.