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 does not look to be an issue tonight.

From the top of the playbook:  I feel that Thursday night’s eight-game MLB slate is mainly about taking some risks.  There are definitely some safe plays on paper that you can target, but finding that right punt play or top priced bat like LaMarre and Yellich from last night is really what this slate comes down to in my opinion.  The same kind of risks could be taken with your team targets as well. Choosing if Boston scores 14 again, if the Yankees finally break out as the top projected scoring team again, as well as figuring out what occurs in the three games featuring teams in the playoff race all make for tough choices.  There’s also the option of pivoting to other games in hope that you find tonight’s 20 plus run total game. How you see the top plays could look different depending on how you see the above scenarios playing out.

 

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:  J.A. Happ looks to be the top option over the more expensive Justin Verlander , while Rich Hill is dominating our ownership projection.

Thirty Second Cheat Sheet: Happ and Hill will likely be more popular than the more expensive Verlander, while Mike Foltynewicz is more of the pivot play. German Marquez is in a great spot, and has been very consistent as a pivot off of Hill, while John Gant seems like a ‘safer” play than Mike Montgomery or Lucas Giolito .  

Overall, it’s a pretty open slate for pitching tonight, even with Happ and Verlander in great spots, and the crazy high ownership prediction for Hill.  Porcello and Folty have killer upside, while Porcello vs Giolito battle of the Sox could surprise some people.  I personally like Marquez over Hill tonight, but would rather take the Giolito risk on DK, and not pay down for a pitcher on FD due to their pricing.

 

Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team:

Our pitching coach, Tom Vecchio, likes Happ and Folty if paying up, and Hill as well as Marquez as top mid-priced options.  Gant would be his value play.

Our projections have Hill leading the way over Verlander and Happ.  Folty and Porcello round out the top five.  Montgomery checks in as the top FD value play, while Montas leads the way 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. I provided my overall options in the playbook, with some additional thoughts below.

Five Second Cheat Sheet:  The Yankees and Red Sox are your top two projected run scoring teams tonight, but the case could be made to look elsewhere.

Thirty Second Cheat Sheet:  While the Yankees and Red Sox are once again projected to score the most runs, that hasn’t always been the case with them lately, so don’t be afraid to pivot to the Astros, A’s, Dodgers, Rockies, Braves, or a team that you think will do what the Reds did last night.  No real must plays, but plenty of players on teams with plenty of upside.

 

Positional Thoughts:

Catcher:  I really don’t like the catcher spot tonight, and will avoid taking one on FD unless needing it for a stack. Yadier Molina or Kurt Suzuki are likely your best options if paying up, with everyone else best suited based on your team targets.  Other options were listed in the playbook.

First Base: I prefer going cheaper with a Tyler White or Luke Voit on FD, but it’s a little more wide open with the pricing on DK.  I wouldn’t mind those above, as well as Freddie Freeman on there. Other routes were listed in the playbook.

Second Base:  I’ll likely be rolling with José Altuve as usual, but the other top priced options are all in solid matchups, with DJ LeMahieu as a top pivot.  I also made a case for going cheaper at second in the playbook, with players like Neil Walker , Greg García , and Luis Urias as possible plays.

Third Base: Made the case for paying up for one of the many top priced 3B options tonight, with Alex Bregman being the popular option, with Nolan Arenado and Justin Turner being the popular pivots.  Not a fan of paying down at third outside of stacking.

Shortstop: Trevor Story is a steal on FD tonight, but could also pay up for Manny Machado , Javier Báez , or the other top priced options depending on your team targets.  Marcus Semien also has a very reduced price tag for his matchup tonight.  I mentioned some other routes in the playbook.

Outfield: I’m not fully paying up for J.D. Martínez or Mookie Betts , but wouldn’t talk you out of it.  Khris Davis and Giancarlo Stanton are both top bets to break out of their slumps tonight, while George Springer and Marwin González are likely better options than Mike Trout and Shohei Otani.  I mentioned other routes in the playbook like a low owned Nick Castellanos, and cheap Adam Duvall and Matt Holliday routes, but don’t be afraid to stick with the Dodgers mid-tier plays.

 

Thoughts from the FantasyAlarm Team: 

Our hitting coach, James Grande, likes the J.D. and Betts combo, as well as Bregman if paying up.  Ozzie and Chapman would be his mid-priced plays, while Candelario and Holliday would be his value targets.

Our projections have the Boston combo of JD and Betts leading the way, followed by Story and Carp.  Stanton makes the top five on FD, while Nolan makes it over him on DK.  Calhoun is the top value play on both sites tonight.

 

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’m staying away from the Red Sox and Yankees tonight if going single entry, and would pivot to the Rockies and Astros.  Most of the thoughts above are geared towards both cash and gpp style plays, as the end of a season is usually best suited for gpp’s.