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.
From the top of the playbook: Today’s main MLB slate will look a little different depending on the site you play on. With the CHC/WAS game being postponed last night, the evening game scheduled tonight has been removed from the DK slate, and FD has moved their main slate up an hour in order to include it. Due to it being the second game of a doubleheader, it may be tough to figure out the projected lineups, and therefore won’t try to play the full guessing game. My thoughts with that game will be listed under Hamels and Rizzo in the playbook. Similar to last night, this slate is best geared for gpp’s and some NFL satellites, as leaving salary on the table, or going the stars and scrubs route once again looks to be a great route.
Top Pitching 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.
Five Second Cheat Sheet: Noah Syndergaard vs the field tonight for pitching, with Cole Hamels in play on FD.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: I don’t think you need to take Noah tonight, and could go cheaper with any number of pitchers in order to fit in some bigger bats. Clay Buchholz has been on fire at home, while José Berrios has the K upside vs the Royals. Walker Buehler and Kyle Freeland could make a game in Coors a pitcher’s duel, while the wind could be a major factor for Matt Shoemaker and James Shields tonight.
It’s pretty wide open tonight in regards to routes to take for pitchers, as I feel September is more for gpp’s than cash style games. In addition to those listed above, Gio González makes his Brewers debut, while Julio Teherán could be in play as well tonight. If not on Berrios, I don’t mind the punt with Jorge Lopez over Felix and Lynn.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our pitching coach, James Grande, likes Thor if paying up, while Berrios and Buehler would be his mid-priced targets.
Our projections don’t have Hamels projected yet, but Thor of course leads the pack, followed by Berrios, Gio, Clay, and Lance Lynn . Felix is the top FD value play, while Gio leads the way on DK.
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.
Five Second Cheat Sheet: Another wide open slate in terms of hitting, and roughly comes down to what team or teams you want to target.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: The game in Coors checks in with the highest projected game total, but the Twins, Brewers, and Cubs (FD) all are hovering around the five implied run total mark. There’s also the matchup of struggling pitchers in the NYY/SEA game, and cheap bats from the Giants, Mets, and White Sox if looking to be different.
Positional Thoughts:
Catcher: No real value plays out there tonight, but may not need it with no high priced pitchers taking the mound. Gary Sánchez and Mike Zunino would be my top targets outside of stacks.
First Base: I do like Jesus Aguilar over Paul Goldschmidt , but Anthony Rizzo could be a solid FD pivot, as well as cheaper options like Luke Voit and Matt Davidson .
Second Base: Brian Dozier and DJ LeMahieu are in solid spots, while Jeff McNeil and Travis Shaw lead the list of pivot options listed in the playbook.
Third Base: I like paying up at third, and would suggest one of the possible three options at Coors in Justin Turner , David Freese , and Nolan Arenado . Plenty of other pivot routes provided in the playbook depending on your team targets.
Shortstop: I’m leaning Trevor Story over Manny Machado , but both work best in their team stacks. Andrelton Simmons is on fire, and some other cheaper, gut plays are listed in the playbook.
Outfield: Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani could both go deep, while Christian Yelich leads the way in a Brewers stack. Jay Bruce is close to a must play if going the FD cash game route, but his other teammates in the OF are a little overpriced on DK for me. Eddie Rosario may be lower owned than Giancarlo Stanton and Brett Gardner , and feel like all three work as pivots off those listed above, as well as the options at Coors.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our hitting coach, Tom Vecchio, likes Yelich and Turner if paying up, while Rosaria and Shaw would be his mid-priced targets. Calhoun and Voit are his top value plays.
Our projections have the Trout leading the way over Dozier and Stanton, while Yelich, Grandal, and Turner are all towards the top as well. Gorkys Hernández checks in as the top FD value play.
GPP’s:
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. I mentioned my team targets, as well as some four pack stack routes in the playbook, but I do like the Brewers and Angels, and will likely fade the KC/MIN game, and look towards the Giants and Mets for value.
Our stacking coach, Jon Impemba, likes the Brewers as his top stack, and the Mariners if looking to be different.