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.
Jonathan Broxton is off to a late start this season while working his way back from offseason forearm surgery, as the veteran reliever will make his first (and likely only) rehab appearances on Friday and Saturday. Assuming he gets through the two outings with no issues, Broxton is likely to be activated for the beginning of the Reds’ three-game series with the Cardinals on Monday. With Aroldis Chapman (head) out until well into May, Cincy is expected to use Broxton as their closer. He’s not half the pitcher he was in his glory days with the Dodgers, but Broxton is good enough to hold down the closer gig for a handful of weeks.
