There are five afternoon games being played today which leaves us with just 10 evening games on the main slate. There are several bonafide aces to choose from, but there also happens to be the top value pitcher perhaps of the year going tonight. I’ll show you how I intend on using that rookie with one of the strongest lineups I’ve ever built for tonight’s contests.

There may be a delay in Chicago but there shouldn’t be any cancellations tonight.

For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS. Also, check out our GPP and Cash Games Primers to learn more about different daily fantasy game types specific to MLB.

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Pitcher

Brock Stewart (LAD) : $5,500 vs MIN

Stewart is the biggest favorite on the night at -229 and his opponent happens to have the lowest Vegas implied total at just 2.88 runs. Granted, Stewart is transitioning from the bullpen so a quality start may not be in store, but the win looks like a near certainty and he should pick up a strikeout per inning with 2 or less runs allowed. The Dodgers’ rookie had a 1.79 ERA with 129 Ks and just 87 hits allowed in 121 minor league innings last season. You can take the extra $4,000 you will save by pitching him and build your strongest offensive attack of the season tonight.

Catcher

Willson Contreras (CHC) : $3,300 @ CWS

Contreras has been the hottest player in baseball of late. After a slow start, he is now up to .273 with 16 bombs on the season. In 7 of his previous 10 games, he has managed at least 18.2 FanDuel points. Add in James Shields to the equation this evening and we should be looking at 8 of 11 games come tomorrow morning.

First Base

Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $4,100 @ CWS

Yes, we are loading up on the Cubs this evening. There are plenty of solid pitching throwing tonight so James Shields is one of the only gas cans going. Vegas has this Cubbies lineup at a massive 5.75 implied runs tonight and Rizzo will be batting 3rd between Bryant and Contreras so RBI and run opportunities will be plentiful.

Second Base

Rougned Odor (TEX): $2,800 vs MIA

This marks the third consecutive lineup advice piece where I’ve recommended Odor at second base and hopefully, it is also the third consecutive one where he homers. Odor may be batting just .215, but his batted ball stats are every bit as good as last season when he batted .271 with 33 homers as a 22-year-old. He is due for positive regression, but we still get him at the bargain.

Third Base

Kris Bryant (CHC): $3,700 @ CHW

As I mentioned before with Contreras and Rizzo, this and Texas are the lineups to stack tonight. Shields is abysmal, the Cubbies are hot and Bryant is a large part of that. He has multi-hit games in 5 of his previous 13 and is too cheap to avoid even if he were opposing a competent pitcher.

Shortstop

Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,000 vs MIA

Don’t look now, but Andrus has been a top 15 fantasy asset over the past calendar year. He has been hitting for power on top of the bases he always steals and high average he always maintains. His opponent tonight, Jose Urena, is a bullpen-transfer and one of the least reliable arms on the slate. For that reason, Vegas has the Rangers at a day-high 6.24 implied runs tonight. If you can, load up on four of these bats, but if you must choose one, Andrus at a premium position and nice price is the way to go.

Outfield

Khris Davis (OAK): $3,900 @ TOR

Davis is now up to 28 bombs and tonight couldn’t be lined up any better for him to add another one or two to the tally. First, he gets a significant ballpark upgrade from the Coliseum to Toronto’s hitter’s paradise. Most importantly, however, is the matchup with homer-prone Marco Estrada. If you have the money, buy yourself a home run here.

Mike Trout (LAA): $4,600 @ CLE

Carrasco is typically an ace, but this year, he has been just a bit better than mediocre with his 3.62 ERA. Trout is worth spending up on even against an arm like him. He’s the clear best player in baseball and comes into tonight’s ballpark upgrade situation blazing hot with 15+ FanDuel points in 5 of his previous 6 games.

Giancarlo Stanton (MIA): $4,100 @ TEX

You may or may not have noticed, but Aaron Judge has been tied by Stanton, who also happens to be seeing a significant ballpark upgrade this evening. Yu Darvish is more than a formidable opponent, but he doesn’t get many groundballs and that could be a problem in tonight’s hot Arlington air.

Other Top Options (in order)

1. Alex Avila (C – DET): $2,400 vs KCR
2. Paul DeJong (3B – STL): $2,900 vs COL
3. Kyle Schwarber (OF – CHC): $2,700 @ CHW
4. Jose Ramirez (2B – CLE): $3,500 vs LAA
5. Adrian Beltre (3B – TEX): $3,700 vs MIA
6. Ian Happ (OF – CHC): $2,800 @ CHW
7. Nomar Mazara (OF – TEX): $2,700 vs MIA
8. Jonathan Lucroy (C – TEX): $2,300 vs MIA
9. Francisco Lindor (SS – CLE): $3,600 vs LAA
10. Miguel Cabrera (1B – DET): $3,700 vs KCR
11. Matt Carpenter (2B – STL): $3,500 vs COL
12. Marcus Semien (SS – OAK): $2,700 @ TOR
13. Josh Reddick (OF – HOU): $3,100 @ PHI
14. Cody Bellinger (1B – LAD): $3,900 vs MIN
15. Michael Brantley (OF – CLE): $3,800 vs LAA
16. Josh Donaldson (3B – TOR): $3,500 vs OAK
17. Brad Zimmer (OF – CLE): $2,700 vs LAA
18. Justin Upton (OF – DET): $3,800 vs KCR
19. Jedd Gyorko (3B – STL): $2,900 vs COL
20. Brian Goodwin (OF – WAS): $3,300 vs MIL
21. Nick Williams (OF – PHI): $3,400 vs HOU
22. Yasmani Grandal (C – LAD): $3,100 vs MIN
23. Justin Smoak (1B – TOR): $3,700 vs OAK
24. Ian Kinsler (2B – DET): $3,700 vs KCR

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