MLB Starting Lineups

MLB Starting Lineups and Games Scheduled

MLB Starting lineups for today's games are essential whether you're betting on the MLB or playing fantasy baseball. And if you're playing daily fantasy baseball, recommend checking out our MLB DFS optimizer to create your own lineups.

Starting lineups once set, including starting pitchers, for each game impact MLB odds and also affects DFS values on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel. There are DFS contests each day during the regular season, and any time there is a game in the playoffs. You can find all of the games scheduled today above on this page. No matter the date, you can utilize the tools on the site to research like you're a manager.

What is a Starting Lineup in Baseball?

A Major League 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 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. Pitcher matchups, game location, and weather are just a few factors that can affect which lineup to draft for your daily fantasy leagues. You can also use odds to help project outcomes or bet.

The Basics

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 as a starter. Any offensive position from the catcher to the outfield can use the utility spot. You can also find starters who are righties and lefties.

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

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 ABs.

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. You also might find betting on pitcher props worthwhile.

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 want to bet on baseball, make sure to check out MLB betting picks strategy and what we think are best MLB betting apps.

Why MLB starting lineups are important for Playing Fantasy Baseball

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

MLB Starting Lineup Picks Overview

As mentioned, stacking is a strategy that provides extreme highs and lows. A stack is a useful if you believe a team has a significant edge over a team's pitching or hitting. You can also use odds to find the most stackable teams. 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.

Other ways to bet on baseball

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, or if a game is postponed to a later date.