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. 

When the weather reports call for chances of rain, the risk/reward factor becomes in play.  As you can see from some of our tools, the risk of targeting hitters from these games could be worth the reward tonight.  Every player should set their own strategies of where, if at all, to take any risks.  I personally avoid games with solid weather concerns, and therefore, will not be using them in my construction piece below. 

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.

Trevor Bauer is the top pitching option today, and works in all formats.  Jameson Taillon works as a pivot on FD for gpp’s, as well as a solid #2 SP on DK.  If not on Taillon, Matt Koch makes for a solid pivot.  The rest of the pitchers, including Faria, Mikolas, and Lynn are in play considering this isn’t a huge pitcher friendly type of slate.

Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:  Our pitching coach, Howard Bender, likes Mikolas, Happ, and Koch as early slate options, and if bargain shopping, prefer Woodruff over the other weak pitchers.

Our projections have Bauer and Taillon leading the way, with Woodruff and Hammel as the top 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. 

On DK, I like Posey if paying up.  On FD, I would rather use a first base option, but could punt the catcher if using a team stack.

Plenty of solid first base options that include Edwin Encarnación , Brandon Belt , Joey Gallo , and Carlos Santana .  I would use one of those four, or a player like Bell or Cron at first base today, but plenty of other options if looking a different direction.

César Hernández is my 2B play today, but Erik González and Sean Rodríguez both work if looking to save some salary.

José Ramírez will likely be a popular option once again tonight, and will continue to use him.  Eugenio Suárez is a solid DK pivot option.

Francisco Lindor and Manny Machado lead the SS pack, but Jean Segura provides solid salary relief.  Moroff and Florimon are in play if punting.

OF is always wide open in terms of routes to consider taking.  If not stacking, I prefer to pay up for one spot, punt the other, and use the last spot to pick a player from a team that I’m already targeting.  I mentioned plenty of options to consider in the playbook, and likely will come down to which pitcher you feel like picking on tonight. The Philly combo of Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera are top options, as well as Dee Gordon is looking to pay up.  Rajai Davis is a plug and play OF option leading off for the second straight night.  Even if you don’t like him, at least use him as a “block.”

Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:  Our hitting coach, Brett Talley, likes the Ramirez/Lindor combo if paying up.  Dickerson and Belt are his mid-tier targets along with Haniger.  Gonzalez, Peralta, and Crawford are his cheap plays.

Our projections have Lindor and Ramirez taking up the top two spots with Pham sitting in third.  Davis and Valentin are the top DK value plays.

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-percent, you need to hit with a stack. I mentioned my thoughts on who I like my stacking in the playbook, but the Indians, Phillies and Giants are my top targets.

Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:  Our stacking coach, Jon Impemba, likes the Phillies, Rangers, Indians, and Pirates today...

Final Thoughts: 

FanDuel: I’m using Bauer as my SP, and plugging in Davis in the OF.  I’ll fill out the OF with a Hoskins/Herrera combo, and instead of Santana or Edwin at first, I’m learning more towards Bell.  That leaves you with a little over $3.1K for the final four spots.

DraftKings:  On DK, going with Bauer, but that second SP spot is pretty wide open.  I’ll be using Taillon personally, while continuing to plug and play Davis in a OF spot.  I’m using Cesar at second, and then going with a Ramirez/Lindor combo.  That’ll leave you with a little over $3K for the final four spots.