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 have opened up new routes to consider. This slate comes down to how you feel about the game being played at Wrigley. The line is starting to drop, but is still the highest for the slate.
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.
On DK, I plan on using Patrick Corbin , but that #2 SP spot is wide open in all formats I feel like. I really don’t like two from the same game, but not against Alex Wood . I do like Lance McCullers , but can see why people wouldn’t want to target the Yankees. That leaves plenty of cheaper pitchers left. I really don’t want to say go with Jeremy Hellickson , but sort of leaning towards him over Julio Teherán .
On FD, I can see Carlos Carrasco being higher owned than Lance, but prefer McCullers still if paying up. Teheran and Hellickson both remain cheap, but feel free to take a shot with one of the other pitchers as well, as this is def. more of a gpp slate.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our pitching coach today, James Grande, likes Corbin if paying up, and Hellickson as the value play.
Our projections have Carrasco above Lance, and also Wood over Corbin.
Top Hitting Targets:
There are plenty of other routes to take with details given in the playbook, and our other tools if wanting to look elsewhere.
On FD, I think avoiding a catcher outside of stacks due to the deep first base options is the way to go on most nights. If not punting, I like Salvador Pérez over Kurt Suzuki or Sanchez. All my playbook punt options are not in the lineup, but still holding out for Jeff Mathis on DK. The rest of the catching options work best in team stacks.
Edwin Encarnación and Paul Goldschmidt are top threats, but the ownership will once again be all over Matt Adams . Lucas Duda and Miggy if in the lineup work for solid gpp plays if not fully stacking.
I like Ozzie Albies over José Altuve today, but more of a personal preference as both are pretty even in my opinion. If looking to go cheap, Wilmer Difo has been swinging the hot bat.
Josh Donaldson is back, but I believe that José Ramírez is the play if paying up. Johan Camargo makes for the great value play, and could be used at SS as well on DK. I feel that Mike Moustakas will be higher owned for cash games, but not against going up to Ramirez, or down to Camargo.
SS is stacked once again today, and if paying up, I prefer Trea Turner on DK, and Francisco Lindor on FD. The other top priced options work in their team stacks, but wouldn’t be surprised to see José Reyes having a solid chunk of the SS ownership in cash games in order to pay up elsewhere.
OF is always wide open, as I feel the sites want you to punt with one of the three spots, as well as pay up for one of them. Bryce Harper will be 50 plus percent owned again, while Rajai Davis will likely be a top value play batting second. A.J. Pollock , the Pirates, and Houston OF bats are all solid gpp pivots, but Jorge Soler makes for a solid play as the third OF option.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our hitting coach today, Tom Vecchio, like Ronald Acuna Jr and Ben Guyer as OF options today.
Our projections have Whit Merrifield as the top projected DK option, currently ahead of José Ramírez , Bryce Harper , George Spring, and Matt Adams to round out the top five. Rajai Davis checks in as the top value option.
GPP’s:
If playing gpp’s, your best approach is stacking. Pick a game, or two teams that you think will blast off, and 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 spoke about the stacks I like, and my approach throughout the playbook.
Final Thoughts:
FanDuel: Pitching is wide open considering I like this slate more for gpp’s, but do prefer Lance over Carlos if paying up for pitching. Going cheap allows plenty of big bats, but paying up for one of the top three priced pitchers, and then going Harper, and Adams from the Nats, and Davis and Camargo for value will leave you with roughly $3.4K for the final four spots.
DraftKings: On DK, Corbin would be my top pitcher, and will personally pair him up with Lance over fully going cheap if playing cash games. If going gpp’s, Hellickson is my #2 SP for $4,700 cheaper than McCullers. Taking Lance with the same core of Harper, Adams, Camargo, and Davis will leave you $3.4K for the last four spots. Sub in Hellickson for McCullers, and you have over $4.5K left per player. With a cheap catcher or even Perez, you can afford a few more big bats, including a top SS.