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. Weather looks to be solid at the moment.
From the top of the playbook: Eight-game MLB slate tonight, and it may be best to once again play GPP’s and satellites only to try to win some tickets for NFL tomorrow. It’s always a pain when DK adjusts their salaries for starting pitchers in order to have some top priced options. That’s the case with Marquez and Heaney tonight. We also see plenty of price differences between the two sites once again, so some players may be best used on one site, and worth the fade on the other. Won’t go into too much detail below, as no team is projected to score over five runs tonight, but the Philly line hasn’t been posted, and they could be in the best spot overall. I do think it’s a solid slate for gut stacking, or going more stand alone options if thinking we don’t see too much scoring.
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: Increased price tags for German Marquez and Andrew Heaney tonight, with Vincent Velasquez as a solid FD value play..
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: I spoke about the DK price increases above, and in the playbook, but Marquez is still likely your best option tonight. Big decision on him over Velasquez on FD, while players like Madison Bumgarner, Charlie Morton, and Eric Lauer could all have solid starts in their matchups tonight.
It’s very much another September GPP slate, and once again, the pricing on FD allows you to take the pitcher you want. Having said that, don’t be surprised to see plenty going the Velasquez toute. Feel free to pivot to Lauer if not feeling Velasquez tonight, but I do prefer Lauer more on DK. I’m willing to pay up for Marquez if going Lauer on DK, as I’m not a huge fan of Heaney, Morton, Godley, and Bum tonight personally.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team
Our projections have Morton leading the way, followed by Velazquez, Marquez, Heaney, and Bumgarner. Velasquez checks in as the top value play across the board.
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: While no games have ten or higher projected run totals for the second straight night, the yet-to-be-announced Vegas line from the Phillies looks to be your best team target.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: After the Phillies, it really comes down to which pitcher, or bullpen you think struggles. I like the three teams that put up goose eggs last night in the Angels, Padres, and Rockies, but also wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of runs in the CWS/BAL and PIT/MIL games. It’s one of the main reasons why most of the playbook starts with an “if...then” type play over take this guy.
Positional Thoughts
Catcher: Salvador Perez joins JT Realmuto and Wilson Ramos as likely the best options if paying up, but don’t overlook the Padres catcher spot in Francisco Mejia, especially if leading off. Punt options work best in their team stacks, and mentioned some routes in the playbook.
First Base: I don’t mind Paul Goldschmidt now that his price decreased a bit, while Jose Abreu and Carlos Santana are solid pivots. Ryan O’Hearn is high in our projections, with other options listed in the playbook.
Second Base: I think second is very open tonight, unless you just feel like a Travis Shaw plug and play. Cesar Hernandez is worth a look on FD, while Jose Altuve has a solid DK price tag. Other options are listed in the playbook, including Cory Spangenberg breaking out of his slump hopefully.
Shortstop: I would stick with Trevor Story or Adalberto Mondesi at SS, but if punting, and not feeling Velasquez, J.T. Riddle makes sense on FD, while Carlos Correa could be a sneaky steal on DK in a Houston stack.
Third Base: Expect Nolan Arenado and the overpriced Alex Bregman to be popular options if paying up, while Mike Moustakas works in a Brewers stack. I mentioned some cheaper routes in the playbook, but all of them are best used paired up with at least one of their teammates.
OutField: Plenty of routes to go in the OF, but would stick with an underpriced Rhys Hoskins, or pay up for a Mike Trout or Christian Yelich. Nelson Cruz works on DK, while Eddie Rosario is a solid stand alone FD option. Jon Jay could be a steal if not on Morton, but plenty of possible cheap Philly bats to use tonight. If not on them, the CWS/BAL game could be another good one to find some value at.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team
Our hitting coach, Tom Vecchio, likes Ohtani if paying up, and Mauer as his value play.
Our projections have Hoskins leading the way, followed by O’Hearn, Trout, Abreu, and Rosario. Logan Forsythe checks in as the top value play across the board.
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 going back to the Phillies, and then, as mentioned above, taking a shot on one of the teams that was shut out last night. The Padres are slightly ahead of the Angels and Rockies in that spot for me.
Our stacking coach, James Grande, likes the Angels tonight.