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 doesn’t look to be an issue tonight, except for cold temps in the CWS/MIN game.
From the top of the playbook: We have a nine-game MLB slate for the last Saturday of the season, and although Coors is still in play, the slate is more built around the top pitcher of the slate in Corey Kluber. While the line may increase a bit, the game in Coors has an under ten-run implied total at the moment, and it’s the Brewers vs the winless Daniel Norris who check in with the highest implied run total of the slate. If I’m paying up for players outside of Kluber, I’m looking at the outfield tonight. Overall, I’ll try to list some top routes below, but may have to fully wait for lineups to come out, as a majority of the teams are playing for next year, or may rest some players to gear up for the playoffs. The Rockies, Brewers, and Braves are the only three teams playing for playoff positioning tonight, and will look to focus most on the Brewers and Rockies. Finally, this is my last MLB playbook for the season, and want to thank all those that have read this, and the lineup construction pieces over the season.
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: Corey Kluber is the top option, with the rest of the slate a step behind in my opinion.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: Aaron Nola or James Paxton look to be the best pivots off of Kluber, but it’s the last weekend of the season, and not the time to fully extend pitchers with expanded bullpens. That is what is keeping off of Wade Miley, which leaves Zack Godley as my top value option. Kyle Gibson is also in a solid spot vs the White Sox in cold weather tonight.
I’ll likely be using Kluber is a majority of lineups, and going cheaper with that #2 SP on DK. Stephen Strasburg is a sneaky play, and same with Anibal Sanchez. It’s hard to see plenty of runs scored in the MIA/NYM game, so Trevor Richards or Steven Matz could also be in play. I mentioned some other routes in the playbook, but the main pitching focus for me is Kluber.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our pitching coach, Brett Talley, doesn’t mind using Paxton for his price tag on FD.
Our projections have Kluber leading the way, followed by Paxton, Nola, Skaggs, and Godley. Skaggs is the top FD value play, while Godley checks in towards to top of the DK value options.
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: The Brewers have the highest implied run total of the slate, with the Rockies behind them up against Strasburg.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: Unlike last night, I think you can go against the game in Coors, but keep in mind the Rockies are swinging hot bats, and will be motivated one way or another after the afternoon Dodgers game ends. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Brewers highly owned, while the late night games present some solid routes to take vs weaker pitchers.
Positional Thoughts: Plenty of routes to take tonight, and always best to try to pair your players up from the same team if trying to decide between similar priced options. Last series of the season, so expect teams to try to give all of their players one last start, but just not sure who starts on which days.
Catcher: The Twins catching options are likely your best route in either Willians Astudillo or Mitch Garver. Rest of the options are best used in team stacks, and should look for punt options like LuCroy once lineups come out.
First Base: First base is stacked like most positions, and it comes down to your team targets. Peter O’Brien and Tyler Austin are sneaky plays once again, while Jesus Aguilar, Paul Goldschmidt, and Freddie Freeman would be my high priced options outside of stacking.
Second Base: I’m leaning Robinson Cano, but can’t go wrong with Jose Ramirez. Logan Forsythe and Daniel Descalso lead the value plays listed in the playbook unless Jonathan Schoop makes an appearance in the Brewers lineup.
Shortstop: I made the case for the high priced options in the playbook, but Hernan Perez on FD would be hard to ignore as a top value play if he’s starting. Marcus Semien is a sneaky late night option.
Third Base: Not paying up for Anthony Rendon on DK, but don’t mind using him over Nolan Arenado on FD. Eduardo Escobar works nicely in a D-Backs stack, while Johan Camargo is in the same boat with a Braves stack. Other routes were mentioned in the playbook.
OutField: Plenty of routes to go in the OF, but the decision likely comes down to the Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun combo, or the Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl one. Both combos are elite, but you do get Braun for a discount, and prefer targeting Norris over Strasburg if entering just one lineup. Mike Trout leads the late night plays, but the Seattle OF, as well as David Peralta are in play for me. Franmil Reyes is cheap on Dk, while the CWS/MIN game has some solid salary relief plays.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our hitting coach, James Grande, likes Dahl, Castellanos, and Yelich if paying up, while McNeil , Astudillo, and Palka would be his mid-priced GPP targets. David Wright is his sentimental top value play.
Our projections have plenty of elite options with close projections at the top, with Lindor leading the way over Yelich, Donaldson, Harper, and Goldy. Souza checks in as the top FD value option, and is also towards the top on DK.
GPP’s:
Most of what was written above works for GPP’s as well, although I do suggest stacking as your best chance to win a 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. I mentioned my team targets, as well as some four pack stack routes in the playbook, but I likely won’t be sneaky like last night with the Marlins, and stick to the Brewers and Rockies. I’m not against a late night stack, and it would be the D-Backs for lower ownership than the Mariners for me.
Our stacking coach, James Grande, makes a solid case for the Brewers and Mariners tonight.