After looking at all of the tools available at Fantasy Alarm, 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 even though the weather has cleared up a bit, there are still some concerns to monitor.

Top Pitching Targets

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:  Monitor the weather, or plug and play Luis Severino .

Thirty Second Cheat Sheet:  Luis Severino and Jacob deGrom are likely better cash game options than Corey Kluber , while Ross Stripling is a solid pivot in the next tier.  Sean Newcomb , Rick Porcello , and Jaime Barria are other top #2 SP for cash, or gpp pivots off the top priced options.

Of that group listed above, I prefer Luis Severino slightly more than Jacob deGrom , but will likely fade Corey Kluber tonight versus a hot Pirates team.  Ross Stripling would be my play over Rick Porcello in the next tier of options, but staying off of Corbin.

On FD, I like Sean Newcomb ’s price tag as a cheaper gpp play, but could also see him being used as a #2 SP on DK.  Jaime Barria is another likely popular #2 SP option on DK, but I’m off him personally. I mentioned some other routes in the playbook, but likely sticking with a top priced option, or one of the names listed above.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our pitching coach, James Grande, likes deGrom, Severino, and Kluber in that order, with Newcomb and Barria as his top mid-priced targets.  Francisco Liriano would be his value play.

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:  Both the Tigers and Royals implied run toals continue to climb, and another hot day for the OAK/TEX game.

Thirty Second Cheat Sheet:  While those four teams are have some great salary relief options in order to pay up for top pitching, the higher priced bats from the division leading Indians and Red Sox are top targets as well.  The Angels and Blue Jays can be targeted without feeling that you are taking too much of a risk, with plenty of other possible routes to take mentioned in the playbook.

Positional Thoughts

Catcher:  I like Salvador Pérez if paying up, with Robinson Chirinos as my top priced pivot over Willson Contreras , Gary Sánchez , and the others.  Outside of stacking, I would go Jonathan Lucroy , or stick to the DET/KC game with James McCann or Drew Butera if looking to punt catcher.

First Base:  As mentioned in the playbook, first base is stacked tonight and you can make the case for plenty of options. Ideally, I’ll try for Freddie Freeman or Joey Votto , but Yonder Alonso , Mitch Moreland , and Ryan Zimmerman are all solid pivots.  On DK, both Matt Carpenter and Brandon Dixon are in play.

Second Base:  I would go cheap at 2B tonight, and will likely depend on your team targets.  Lourdes Gurriel Jr. , Brock Holt , Brandon Dixon , and Chase Utley would be my top punt options.  I mentioned some other routes to consider in the playbook.

Third Base:  I spoke about it in the playbook, but if playing cash games, it’s either plug and play Adrián Béltre on FD, or pay up for Matt Carpenter or José Ramírez .  Yandy Diaz , Max Muncy , Renato Núñez , and Luis Valbuena would be my top gpp pivots.

Shortstop:  I like the discount with Manny Machado over Francisco Lindor if paying up at ss, while Paul DeJong , José Peraza , and Greg García could all be in play if targeting the STL/CIn game, but learning slightly more towards the OAK/TEX game with Marcus Semien or Elvis Andrus .

Outfield:  As mentioned in the playbook, OF is pretty stacked tonight with plenty of routes to go depending on your team targets.  I like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martínez over Mike Trout , Michael Brantley , and the Yankees bats. Chad Pinder will be an easy plug and play on FD due to his matchup and price tag, with his teammate Khris Davis in play if looking at the A’s.  Plenty of cheap options in the DET/KC game with Leonys Martín leading the way, but have to remember that they are still not great teams. Matt Kemp is on fire, while Kole Calhoun is a solid cheap leadoff hitter if going for a late night hammer stack.  TeOscar Hernandez leads my gpp pivot options, with other routes listed in the playbook.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team: Our hitting coach, Jon Impemba, likes Carp, Freeman, and Betts if paying up, with Calhoun, Russell, and Grichuk as his top mid-priced targets.  Garcia and Orlando are his top value plays.

Our projections have J.D. leading on FD, and Carp for DK.  Ramirez, Benintendi, and Trout round out the top five. Pinder is the top FD value option, with Valbuena topping the list on DK.

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 be paying up for pitching, which means looking at one of the top value teams mentioned above to target.  Although I do like full 4x4 stacks, if not sold on the cheap teams, a four pack of stand alone value players like Pinder, Beltre, Valbuena, and McCann would work just as well. I don’t mind going back to the Dodgers or Indians, while a team like the O’s could really go under owned tonight.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our stacking coach, Tom Vecchio, likes the Rangers, Indians, and Tigers tonight.