Welcome to Pickup of the Day, where every weekday we'll pick an under-the-radar player whose immediate value is on the rise. The idea here is to identify a starter who can give you some solid innings off the scrap heap, a talented backup who's been given a chance because of a starter's injury, an unheralded regular with a favorable matchup, or a potential breakout player who's starting to put it together. Unlike regular waiver-wire advice, Pickup of the Day is geared more towards interim success, but hopefully we'll have the intuition to help you snag a waiver-wire gem a few times this season.
The Angels have thrown C.J. Cron right into the fire since calling him up on Saturday, giving him four straight starts. The former first-round pick has responded with five hits and a couple RBI in his first 15 at-bats, even drawing one start in the cleanup spot and one in the five-hole. With Raul Ibanez hitting an ugly .138/.221/.277 so far for the Halos, Cron could see more and more time in the designated hitter spot. The 24-year-old has hit .289/.332/.501 in the minors while homering once every 23.4 plate appearances. He’s worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues.