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 is worth monitoring in Chicago and KC, with slightly more concern in the DET/KC game.
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: Wide open slate in which you can feel fine locking in top options, or save salary with cheaper pitchers vs poor teams in order to target top bats.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: The Max Scherzer vs Aaron Nola rematch is likely the safer play over Jacob deGrom , but could also pay slightly less for a large group of second tier priced pitchers. Carlos Carrasco and Jack Flaherty are likely the top options from that group, while Félix Hernández has a great DK price tag vs a poor Padres team.
I provided a large breakdown of my preferred pitching routes in the playbook, but I feel that you have a better shot by targeting a top hitting team, than paying up for pitching. Having said that, Aaron Nola would be my pick over Scherzer and deGrom. Although Flaherty and Carrasco are solid, they still cost a decent amount of salary, and the same goes for the pivot option in Walker Buehler . Charlie Morton , Cole Hamels , and the Clay Buchholz vs Madison Bumgarner matchup are all possible plays, but if really looking to load up on DK, a pitcher like Lance Lynn or Thomas Pannone are great plays to pair up with Félix Hernández . Brian Johnson could likely be a top value play if playing cash style games. I mentioned it in the playbook, but on FD, I feel that they have plenty of value priced hitting that allows you to pick the pitcher you want regards of price tag.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our pitching coach, Tom Vecchio, likes Scherzer and Carrasco if paying up, while Johnson and Boyd would be his mid-priced targets. Felix and Junis would be his top value plays.
Our projections have Morton leading the way, followed by Scherzer and Carrasco. deGrom and Flaherty round out the top five. Johnson is the top FD value play, while Guerra checks in at the top of the DK list.
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 Dodgers, Yankees, and Red Sox are your top teams to target, with the Dodgers being my top team.
Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: While those three teams all currently have implied run totals well over six runs, four other teams sit at over five projected runs, highlighted by the Astros and Indians. Not against going with the Brewers, or back to last night’s disappointment in the Blue Jays, but just note that unless max entering 150 lineups, you may not be able to grab exposure to everyone, so try to target five or so teams, which includes 2-3 salary relief targets.
Positional Thoughts:
Catcher: I prefer Yasmani Grandal if paying up, with J.T Realmuto as the pivot if looking to be different. Blake Swihart would be my cheap option, with Victor Caratini if looking to be different. Other options were listed in the playbook.
First Base: I prefer Max Muncy over the plenty of other top priced options, including Paul Goldschmidt . Mitch Moreland has a great FD price tag, but if playing cash game, Luke Voit is likely your best play. Plenty of other routes listed in the playbook, highlighted by Jesus Aguilar .
Second Base: I’ll likely be rolling with José Altuve or Brian Dozier , but plenty of other routes provided in the playbook, including Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Ian Kinsler , and Daniel Murphy .
Third Base: Sticking with Justin Turner , but José Ramírez , Eugenio Suárez , Alex Bregman , and Nolan Arenado are all elite options. Plenty of other routes provided in the playbook, with Kyle Seager listed as part of a late night Seattle stack.
Shortstop: Really depends on the team targets at SS, but I do like Manny Machado and the Dodgers more than Xander Bogaerts , Francisco Lindor , Carlos Correa , and Javier Báez . Gleyber Torres works on FD as a SS, while José Peraza and Elvis Andrus are solid value plays.
Outfield: I would either go closer to the mid-priced route with Joc Pederson , Cody Bellinger , George Springer , Marwin González , and Christian Yelich (FD), or fully pay up for J.D. Martínez or Mookie Betts . Trout and Harper are decent specialty style game picks, and guess the case could be made for Giancarlo Stanton , but will likely be off of those three in favor of the Boston top priced options, and Dodgers mid-tier plays. Some other routes were provided in the playbook.
Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:
Our hitting coach, Jon Impemba, likes Goldy, Stanton, and Muncy if paying up, while Marwin, Salvador Pérez , and Jose Martinez would be his top mid-priced targets. Swihart and Austin Jackson are his top value plays.
Our projections have the Brewers all over the top of the list, but Matt Carpenter leads the way, followed by Shaw, Aguilar, Bellinger, Yelich, and Bregman. Herrera leads the FD value plays, while Murphy is 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, and 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’m going the cheaper pitching route, which allows me to load up on the Dodgers. Could then either go with cheap stand alone options like Voit and Murphy, or go with cheap Marlins, Mariners, or other team stack.
Our stacking coach, James Grande, provides primary and secondary stack options for his top team targets in the Astros, Dodgers, and Brewers.