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Daily Dime: Cooney, Kluber, Coors, two guys named Ian

Daily Dime: Cooney, Kluber, Coors, two guys named Ian

Yahoo Daily Fantasy is fun, especially when all the teams are in play. Here are some names to consider as you do your Friday shopping. Make sure you check out the weather and lineups before you make final commitments.

Tim Cooney, SP, vs. ATL (Williams), $25: You’re hoping for six innings from Cooney, an ordinary lefty, but also take note he’s the second-biggest favorite on the Friday card. Those win points sure come in handy. Atlanta’s offense isn’t much without Freddie Freeman; the Braves are the NL’s lowest-scoring team for the second half.

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Corey Kluber, SP, vs. CHW (Quintana), $60: It’s a pay-up price, though you do save a few ducats over the Max Scherzer layout. Kluber’s been hurt by Cleveland’s messy defense this year, but the Tribe has upgraded the infield in recent weeks. He’s carrying a 2.74 ERA at home and the White Sox are 24th in wOBA against right-handed pitching.

Rougned Odor, 2B, at LAA (Tropeano), $18: A brief spell in the minors seemed to fix Odor’s swing and confidence: he’s on a ballistic .370/.408/.648 tear since. Sure, I’d like some of that. Like most young pitchers, Nick Tropeano will be treated as guilty until proven innocent. He had a 4.43 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Ian Kinsler, 2B, vs. BOS (Porcello), $17: His bat finally woke up in July (1.010 OPS, three homers), and he’s owned Rick Porcello over their brief history (6-for-10). The entire American League has kicked Porcello around this year, especially over the last ten turns (7.20 ERA), so look for runs in Motown for Friday night.

Ian Desmond, SS, at PIT (Locke), $14: Is his nightmare summer finally turning around? Desmond has seven hits and two homers over his last four games, and now he draws the platoon advantage against a soft-tossing lefty. Sounds good to me.

Kole Calhoun, OF, vs. TEX (Lewis), $18: Calhoun moved into the No. 2 slot in the order five weeks ago and it’s coincided with the Angels taking off (22-9 record). He’s had a role in the spike, posting an .824 OPS and seven home runs. He likes the tilt of Colby Lewis, holding a 9-for-19 ledger against him, with four extra-base hits. KC in the OC.

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Marlon Byrd, OF, at COL (Butler), $15: The big-name Reds look appealing here, of course, but we should also suggest someone in a more-affordable tier. Byrd doesn’t have a great resume against RHPs this year, but when Eddie Butler is on the other side, I don’t think it much matters. Someone is going to get their licks in here. Some people wrote Byrd off after a horrible April, but he’s a .278/.341/.541 slasher since, with 14 home runs.

Ben Paulsen, 1B, vs. CIN (DeSclafani), $12: Again, you probably don’t need my help to steer you to big-name Rockies, at home no less. Those guys speak for themselves. Paulsen figures to return to action now that Colorado faces another right-handed opponent. Paulsen has an .887 OPS at home, an .816 OPS against RHPs, and a winning mustache.

Colby Rasmus, OF, at KC (Guthrie), $9: Left-handed hitters love to dig in against Jeremy Guthrie: .333/.395/.531. Rasmus certainly is a player with some fleas, but he also has a .500 slugging percentage against the northpaws this year. Come hack with me.

Pablo Sandoval, 3B, art DET (Verlander), $13: If you want to walk away from the dumpster fire that is the Boston offense, okay. I won’t beg you to come back, or question your judgment. But I’m intrigued by Panda at a giveaway price, and we know Justin Verlander hasn’t fooled anyone this year. And the last time Panda met JV, a couple of explosions followed (and a third off a reliever). Call it a hunch play, but I’ll take some Sandoval hacks Friday...