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.

Please make sure to monitor the weather tonight, especially in the NYY/BAL game.  I typically avoid pitchers in games with weather issues, but news could change in the hours after this was written.


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.

Clayton Kershaw returns from the DL tonight, and instantly becomes the top priced pitcher versus the Phillies who check in with the lowest implied run total of the slate.  As Howard mentioned in the playbook, his price is nowhere near as high as we’ve seen others on DK, and makes for a solid option in all formats. His opponent, Aaron Nola is the other top priced arm tonight, and is one good start away from being the pitcher of the month based on his previous results.  I’m not against using both, but suggest going Kershaw on DK, and take the discount with Nola on FD. The start time of this game is interesting, as it’s a 5:35 start so expect shadows to play a factor.

If not on either of the two above, Lance McCullers and the Astros are the largest favorites of the slate, and Betts remains out for the Red Sox.  José Quintana may be a popular gpp play, but I’m with Howard and Jon in liking Wade LeBlanc as a value pitcher tonight for GPP’s, or even a SP2 option on DK.  I’m also with them on Shane Bieber , as he has the birthday narrative going for him when he makes his first career start tonight. The guy threw a seven inning no-hitter in his last outing before the call-up.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our pitching coach, Jon Impemba, likes Nola and Jack Flaherty if paying up. Bieber is joined by Sonny Gray if looking for a mid-priced options, while LeBlanc is his top value option.

Our projections have McCullers leading the way, followed by Kershaw, Nola, Quintana, and LeBlanc.  LeBlanc checks is as the top 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 hitting coach piece, with some additional thoughts below..

For me, I’m not against targeting the NYY/BAL game, but will be off of it due to the weather concerns in all formats tonight.  I will leave them off the info below, but will refer you to the playbook, and the stacks article that both provide good info on routes to take from that game.   

Catcher is pretty weak tonight in my opinion if you take Gary Sánchez out of the picture.  After him, yes, you can pay up for a Willson Contreras or J.T. Realmuto , but if not really wanting to pay up for a catcher, Tim Federowicz is asking to be punted on DK tonight.  If looking at mid-value, don’t be afraid to go back to Seattle and Mike Zunino , who I prefer over a player like Yan Gomes .

I like both Anthony Rizzo and Edwin Encarnación over Freddie Freeman if paying up at first tonight.  Ryon Healy makes for a popular option if going with a Seattle stack, while J.D. Davis and Logan Morrison work as solid punt options.  

I like José Altuve tonight, as well as the Astros as a whole, but can see a Javier Báez or Ozzie Albies being used as well.  Possible leadoff bats like Dee Gordon on FD, or José Pirela across the board work for salary relief if not looking to pay up.

I’m with Howard as José Ramírez is likely in the top spot when looking at third base options, with Alex Bregman and Kris Bryant also working as solid pivots.  Johan Camargo makes for a affordable FD option, while Christian Villanueva is the sneaky higher priced pivot option whenever facing a lefty. Don’t overlook the Cards vs Williams, including Matt Carpenter , who can also be used at 2B on FD.

If not looking at targets in the game in Baltimore, Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor are my preferred options over Turner, but can always use Jean Segura until his price rises on FD.  

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. Tonight, Bryce Harper remains an elite play for me, and think you can add in George Springer to the list. Franmil Reyes makes for a top value play, and I’m with Howard on Mitch Haniger coming through with a good game tonight.  Harrison Bader is a sneaky pivot off Reyes for cheap, as well as Jason Heyward batting second for the Cubs tonight.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our projections have six Yankees listed in the top nine tonight. Aaron Judge is the top projected with his teammate Sanchez in the second spot.  Ramirez and Lindor are the Cleveland combo, and only two non-Yankees in the top five with Stanton and Gardner rounding it out. LoMo and Garcia are the top value plays on FD, with Healy and Dietrich joining LoMo as the DK 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, 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 like the Padres tonight, and would pair them up with either a top stack option, or with the Nationals.

Thoughts from the Fantasy Alarm Team:  Our stacking coach, Brett Talley, likes the Yankees and Astros as the top stacks, with the Cubs and Padres as his contrarian plays.
 

Final Thoughts:  

FanDuel: I don’t mind Nola over Kershaw, but if you prefer Kershaw, one extra under $2.6K OF option over a Springer or Harper easily fits in Kershaw over Nola.  I’ll use at least one, but more than likely two OF spots on a cheap option, and likely paying up for Altuve at second, but can go with one of the cheaper 2B options listed above if looking to spend up elsewhere, as I’ll likely be using Camargo as a cheap 3B option so can easily flip those spots if looking to pay up at third. That leaves you with roughly $3.1K for the final three players with Nola as your pitcher, and paying up for Springer in that last OF spot.  Harper over Springer brings it down to under $2.8K per hitter.

DraftKings:  On DK, I’m likely going Kershaw over Nola for cash games, then either paying up for Flaherty, or down to LeBlanc for the SP2 spot. With Flaherty, you’ll have a little over $3.6K per hitter, but that jumps to over $4K with LeBlanc.  Keep in mind that there’s enough value out there with hitters if you want both Kershaw and Nola, or even McCullers. The value starts at catcher by punting with Federwicz. Reyes, Heyward, and Camargo are all affordable if looking to go that route.  If going with LeBlanc or Flaherty, I would stick to targeting so of the higher priced options in good spots tonight.