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.
Devin Mesoraco got off to a late start this season while working his way back from a strained left oblique, but he started to make up for lost time in his first start of the season Tuesday, lacing a pair of doubles while also scoring a run. While his career .227/.283/.363 batting line leaves a lot to be desired, Mesoraco does have 16 homers in 593 plate appearances and is a former top prospect. With Ryan Hanigan now in Tampa, he’s slated for everyday at-bats for the Reds and makes for a nice second catcher option in mixed leagues.
