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.  
 

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 players 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.

My hope is that Washington postpones this game before it even starts over asking Max Scherzer to pitch in less than ideal conditions.  I can’t say for sure what the weather will do a few hours out, but I’ll be avoiding this game tonight. Newcomb being scratched, and not wanting to target any part of the Indians/Astros game if playing cash games leaves me with Jacob deGrom as my top pitcher tonight.  I like his price tag on DK, and based on my reasoning above, is the default FD of the top priced options.

On DK, I’m leaning towards some top hitting options, which means looking at a cheaper #2 SP.  Although there are some solid options in the $7K range including Jon Lester , Jake Arrieta , Michael Wacha , Félix Hernández , and C.C. Sabathia, I’m dropping down a little bit less to Iván Nova .  I know that in the playbook I mentioned Nova more as a gut play, but he’s facing the Padres as a favorite at home, and trust him the same as I do the pitchers mentioned above. The spot would have fully went to a Arrieta or Wacha, but I personally don’t take pitchers in games to have large, weather concerns.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our pitching coach, James Grande, likes Scherzer and deGrom if paying up, with Sabathia and Freeland checking in as his mid-priced targets.  Ross Stripling and Nova are his value plays.

Our projections have Scherzer at the top, followed by deGrom, Morton, Stripling, and Wacha.  Stripling is the top value play on both sites, with Pomeranz joining him as a top value play 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.

On FD, I’m only using a catcher if in a team stack unless you feel strongly about Willson Contreras or Gary Sánchez over the similar priced 1B options.  Both of them are the top options on DK in the catcher spot, but learning more towards saving some salary with Christian Vázquez or Tyler Flowers . Both are the same price, and suggest choosing that pairs up with other hitters you may have from their team.  I like both Boston and Atlanta bats, so still a toss-up for me.

Plenty of solid first base options that include Freddie Freeman and Anthony Rizzo , Hanley Ramírez , and C.J. Cron , but I’m likely learning towards heavily targeting the OAK/TOR game.  At first, that’s Matt Olson for me over Justin Smoak , but both make for solid plays.

Ozzie Albies is my top 2B play today, but not sure if I want to spend a high price in a game with weather concerns.  Jed Lowrie is a solid FD option if sick of Brian Dozier vs a lefty, or Jonathan Schoop . I spoke about not wanting him in the playbook, but Adam Frazier on DK opens up plenty of salary if you like that route over a struggling Ian Kinsler .  I would rather go with Anderson at SS over Frazier.

Josh Donaldson and Kris Bryant will likely take up a majority of the ownership, but plenty of solid 3B pivots starting with Nolan Arenado , Yangervis Solarte , and José Bautista as some top options for me.  I would try to take one of the top two though if playing cash games.

SS is wide open, and really can’t talk you in or out of any certain play.  I will restate what was mentioned in the playbook, which was that if you were on the O’s last night vs Price, nothing should change for your approach for building lineups tonight.  That likely means going with Manny Machado . I’ll be on Xander Bogaerts over Jean Segura if paying up, or Tim Anderson leading off for value.

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. Can’t go wrong with any of the Boston bats if you can afford them, and will likely go with at least one.  You also have five A’s to choose from, as well as Curtis Granderson leading off if looking to full stack this game. I do like Kris Davis in all formats tonight, and Brett Gardner for some cheap Yankees exposure.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our hitting coach, Jon Impemba, likes a Betts, Martinez, Bogaerts combo from the Red Sox, as well as Bryant and Machado if looking to pay up.  Davis is his top mid-priced play, with Anderson and Jeff Marte as his mid-priced plays. Iannetta and Bradley Jr are his value options.

Our projections have Blackmon taking down the top spot, with Anderson a surprise second on DK.  Judge is ahead of him on FD, while Sanchez and Story round out the top five. Anderson is joined by Ian Happ as top value plays.  Happ is actually the top overall projected Cubs player.

 

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 mentioned my thoughts on who I like my stacking in the playbook, but the OAK/TOR game, Red Sox, and the Braves are my top targets.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our stacking coach, Tom Vecchio, likes the Blue Jays, Braves, and White Sox.

 

Final Thoughts:  

FanDuel: Jacob deGrom would be my pitcher, while using at least two Oakland players in Olson and Davis.  I’m paying up for Betts, and will wait for a late game lineup to come out for a punt OF play (Currently learning Cuevas), but don’t be shocked to see Frazier highly owned.  That will leave you with a little under $3K for the last four spots, but can see Anderson as the SS, and could then open up salary by punting one more spot, or pivoting off of Betts.

DraftKings:  On DK, sticking with deGrom and Nova unless the weather changes.  I’ll add a $2.8K catcher, and will use the Olson/Davis combo again.  Donaldson and Betts at 3B and a OF spot leaves you with $4.4K for the last three spots.