Whether you're betting on the MLB or playing fantasy baseball, it's imperative that you know today's MLB starting lineups.
The lineup, including starting pitchers, impact MLB odds and also effect DFS values on states like DraftKings and FanDuel.
What is a Starting Lineup in Baseball?
The baseball lineup includes a pitcher, a catcher, three outfielders, and four infielders. Each person in the lineup contributes in their way, whether offensively or defensively. The fantasy baseball lineup is similar. Single-year leagues can have different draft strategies. Single-year leagues present a long-term challenge, where the greater picture is the focus.
Daily Fantasy Leagues are a quick challenge, with the ability to craft a new lineup daily. Daily Fantasy players use strategies daily based on individual matchups. Pitcher matchups, game location, and weather are just a few factors that can affect which lineup to draft for your daily fantasy leagues.
The Basics
Fantasy baseball starting rosters look the same as the lineup card given to the umpire. Creating a fantasy lineup will include drafting multiple starting pitchers, multiple relief pitchers, and a utility spot. Any offensive position from the catcher to the outfield can use the utility spot.
Aside from the utility spot and the pitching positions, an MLB DFS team must include a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, and three outfielders.
Beyond MLB Lineups - Statistics to Follow
Fantasy baseball involves more statistical analysis than other sports. Fantasy baseball is traditionally broken into categories with the goal being to get more of a certain stat than your opponent. Players can earn offensive stats via runs, hits, home runs, RBI’s, stolen bases, on-base percentage, and extra-base hits. Pitcher stats for fantasy baseball include wins, quality starts, saves, walks, strikeouts, earned run average and WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched).
At Bats (AB)
At bats, often abbreviated using AB, is any plate appearance that results in either a hit to get on base or an out. Certain plate appearances, such as walks, sacrifice bunts, or RBIs that result in an out, do not count towards official at-bats.
For instance, if a player walks in their first at-bat, the official stat line will show as 0-0 with a walk. A walk is important in fantasy baseball because it reflects in the on-base percentage.
Run (R) & Runs Batted In (RBI)
Any time a player crosses home plate, they are awarded a run to their stat line. RBIs are calculated in a variety of way. Any hit resulting in a run scored is tallied towards the RBI stat line. However, a player can also pick up an RBI for any plate appearance resulting in a run. A bases loaded walk would result in an RBI. A deep fly ball that allows the runner on third to tag and go home is also an RBI. If a player hits a home run, they are awarded a hit, a run, and an RBI.
Hit (H): 2b, 3b, HR
A hit is awarded to a player that has put a ball in play that results in that player being awarded a base. A single would be 1b. A double is 2b. A triple is 3b. Any hit that is a home run would just be abbreviated as HR in fantasy baseball circles.
Base on Balls (BB)
A base on balls, indicated by BB, is when a batter receives four pitches outside the strike zone and gets a free pass to first base. This also helps a batter's on-base percentage.
Strikeouts (K)
A batter gets three strikes before they record an out. This negatively affects their on-base percentage. Going beyond fantasy baseball, when a strikeout is indicated with a backward K, that means the batter struck out looking.
How to Use the MLB starting lineups in DFS Play
Defining your target strategy is the first step in crafting a baseball fantasy lineup. Is your league built to favor defense or offense? Daily fantasy leagues typically cater to offense and thus should be the basis of your target players. Looking for righty and lefty batting splits against pitching, success at certain ballparks, and history against teams are other factors for creating your lineup.
Also review bullpens and bullpen usage throughout the week, which could favor or hinder certain batters. And if you're betting on baseball, make sure to check out MLB betting picks strategy and what we think are best MLB betting apps.
Why the MLB starting lineup is important for DFS play
We already gave an example of scoring at PrizePicks, but scoring can look drastically different among sites. FanDuel and DraftKings are among the first daily fantasy providers, and arguably the most popular, so let us break down their scoring chart.
FanDuel
Hitters are awarded the following points:
- 1B=3pts
- 2B=6pts
- 3B=9pts
- HR=12pts
- RBI=3.5pts
- R=3.2pts
- BB=3pts
- SB=6pts
- HBP (Hit by pitch, awarded first base)=3pts
Pitchers are awarded the following points:
- Win=6pts
- Quality Start=4pts
- ER=-3pts
- SO=3pts
- IP=3pts, or 1 point per out recorded as pitcher.
DraftKings
Hitters earn points in the following categories:
- 1B=3pts
- 2B=5pts
- 3B=8pts
- HR=10pts
- RBI=2pts
- Run=2pts
- BB=2pts
- HBP (Hit by pitch, awarded first base)=2pts
- SB=5pts
Pitchers are awarded the following points:
- IP=2.25pts, or 0.75 pts per out recorded as pitcher
- K=2pts
- Win=4pts
- ER=-2pts
- Hit Against=-0.6pts
- BB=-0.6pts
- Hit Batsman=-0.6pts
- Complete Game=2.5pts
- Complete Game Shutout=2.5pts
- No Hitter=+5pts
Using MLB Starting Lineups in Fantasy Baseball
A team's starting lineup can indicate useful information in fantasy sports. It can help craft a strong lineup for your fantasy league. This might allow you to stack your lineup with multiple players from the same team, but this is a volatile strategy that can lead to extreme success or futility.
MLB Starting Lineup Picks Overview
As mentioned, stacking is a strategy that provides extreme highs and lows. Stacking is a useful strategy if you believe a team has a significant edge over a team's pitching or hitting. However, the sport is as unpredictable as the weather, and it is part of what makes fantasy baseball great. We have tried stacking, and it's a mixed bag of results.
A more mild strategy involves utilizing players that provide low risk. In a baseball lineup, batters that hit fifth or higher are often the better hitters on their team. Drafting a lineup with just hitters that bat fifth or higher could yield better results.
Picking players that present as long shots is not useful as a strategy in daily fantasy leagues. A single is a single regardless of the batter.
DFS MLB Game Analysis Tips
Here's some ways to draft and perform game analysis.
- Monitor starters: The starting pitching will be a big basis for your lineup. Aside from the starting pitching, you should also focus on bullpen usage. For example, whether a team has more success against righties or lefties, and how many bullpen arms aid to their success.
- Know how to pick your spots: Trends are found in every sport, but they present themselves at a greater volume in baseball. Failing 70% of the time still makes you an excellent baseball player. So if a player is on a hot or cold streak, it could greatly affect your decision to draft them.
- Remember to fill in the gaps: Try to draft players that fill every void. Some players are known for power, some for contact, and some for generating base running. A perfect lineup should fill every layer for scoring opportunities.
- Choose solid projections: Every site will have different projections based on individual criteria, but a general consensus should be found. Use your basic knowledge combined with the projection to craft your lineup.
- Get ideas from the experts: RotoGrinders, FantasyLabs, and VegasInsider are a few resources that provide expert analysis.
Which States Can I Bet on Major League Baseball?
Online sports betting is legal in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Live betting is also a popular avenue for sports wagering which can be found at any reputable sportsbook. Be aware that odds are always subject to change due to factors such as lineup alterations, including pitching changes.
MLB Starting Lineups FAQ
Want to learn more about crafting the perfect MLB starting lineup? Read these common questions and answers we've compiled below.
When are MLB lineups released?
Lineups can be released up to four hours before the first pitch, but are not official until the card is given to the umpire.
What are the stats to watch when looking up MLB lineups?
In a sport dominated by analytics, there is no shortage of useful stats to look up when crafting a baseball fantasy lineup. You can use overall ERA, at-bat history against a pitcher, righty splits, lefty splits, history at certain stadiums, and even more recent bullpen usage.
How should new players keep track of scratches, hits, etc, when looking at the MLB starting lineup?
Baseball is different than other sports. While some sites will have the projected lineup a few hours before the first pitch, a baseball lineup is not official until the manager hands the card to the umpire.
What positions are on the MLB lineup?
A lineup in baseball consists of a catcher, pitcher, left fielder, center fielder, right fielder, shortstop, first baseman, second baseman, and third baseman.
