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. Also, please monitor the weather, as two games have already been called off for tonight.
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.
Five Second Cheat Sheet: Pay up for Justin Verlander or Clayton Kershaw, with Trevor Cahill as FD value, and Felix Hernandez for DK value.
There is a solid group of four top priced pitchers in which the case could be made for all of them tonight. Of that group, I prefer Justin Verlander slightly more than Clayton Kershaw if playing cash games. While both are solid gpp plays as well, I can see a case for pivoting to Carlos Carrasco, as Howard spoke about his K upside in the pitching coach, but as mentioned in the playbook, I’m not a fan of pitchers in over 100 degree temps. I also stated I’m not a fan of taking an underdog for cash games, and surprised that Madison Bumgarner and the Giants fit that role tonight, especially after he shut down the A’s right before the break. Overall though, I’m likely sticking with only Verlander or Kershaw if paying up.
On FD, Trevor Cahill has a very affordable price tag if not looking to spend up for pitching, while Felix Hernandez has the best DK price tag, and could be a solid and popular #2 SP in all formats. Lance Lynn and Zack Godley are the other two options that could see higher ownership as mid-priced plays, while a Mike Montgomery or Chase Anderson could work as higher risk pivots.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: Our pitching coach, Howard Bender, made the case for all four of the top priced options in Verlander, Kershaw, Carrasco, and Bumgarner, while Felix, Cahill, and Lynn all check in as his mid-priced targets.
Our projections have Kershaw slightly ahead of Verlander, with Cahill, Carrasco, and Godley rounding out the top five. Cahill is the top FD value play, with Felix filling that spot 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: Find exposure to the Indians, while using the Twins and Mariners bats to fill in the gaps if playing cash games.
Thirty Second GPP Cheat Sheet: Use the teams above, but maybe go more Twins and Mariners if looking to be different. The Astros, Dodgers, and Rangers could all light up the scoreboard, while going against Cahill and Lynn by targeting the Giants and Royals may be a better route than the Brewers, D-Backs, or A’s. Although I do like the PIT/CIn game with Howard, I’m likely staying away from that game for cash over sweating out some rain delays, but perfect for the high risk/high reward stack.
Positional Thoughts:
Catcher: I like Yasmani Grandal or Willson Contreras if paying up, but Robinson Chirinos and Yan Gomes provide exposure to the high total game. Chris Herrmann or Francisco Pena work as punt options.
First Base: Edwin Encarnacion or Yonder Alonso will fill most of my lineups at 1B, while a Cody Bellinger or Paul Goldschmidt work best in team stacks. Ryon Healy and Jose Abreu or solid value options.
Second Base: Jose Altuve and Brian Dozier will both be popular options if paying up, but Jason Kipnis is your best bet if not fully paying up. Don’t overlook Max Muncy, Javier Baez, and Dee Gordon as pivot targets.
Third Base: Jose Ramirez is the play if paying up, with Alex Bregman the preferred pivot over Nolan Arenado. As mentioned in the playbook, Adrian Beltre’s price tag is making it hard for me to pass up tonight if not using Carrasco. Plenty of solid pivots mentioned in the playbook, with Mike Moustakas, Eduardo Escobar, and Kyle Seager topping that list.
Shortstop: Can take your pick of Francisco Lindor, or Manny Machado tonight, but learning Lindor personally. Jean Segura is the sneaky pivot, with most other SS options looking best for their team stacks only.
OutField: As mentioned in the playbook, I’m not a huge fan of the OF options tonight, and best to pair them up with teammates from your IF targets tonight. Michael Brantley and Charlie Blackmon may be popular top priced options, but Howard made a solid case for Eddie Rosario if targeting the Twins, and I like Nelson Cruz if looking at Seattle. Joc Pederson and Matt Kemp could be in play with the Dodgers, while Melky Cabrera, and Tyler Naquin provide cheap Cleveland exposure. There are some other cheap options, especially from the STL/CHC game, but feeling like it may be best to avoid that game outside of team stacking. Once again, that PIT/CIN game is very tempting if you have the patience to possibly wait it out.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our hitting coach, Howard Bender, likes Ramirez and Votto if paying up, with Starling Marte, Rosario, and Mous as his mid-priced targets. Cargo and Jake Cave would be his value plays.
Our projections have Ramirez leading the way, followed by Bregman, Blackmon, Mitch Haniger, and Marte. Pinder checks in as the top FD value options, with Marwin as the top DK one.
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 will likely focus on a Cleveland stack, with the top bats paired with cheap pitching, and their bottom of the lineup guys if paying up for pitching. I mentioned in the playbook that my pivot off of Cleveland is likely the Dodgers over the Twins and Mariners, but all are in play. Since I’m not a Cahill fan, I may use the Giants as salary relief in a 4x4 stack.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: Our stacking coach, Howard Bender, likes the Indians, Mariners, and Twins, and a fan of the full game Pirates vs Reds stack.