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.
Kevin Gausman will be making his season debut for the Orioles on Wednesday, getting the start versus the Tigers. The outing comes after the young right-hander posted a 2.08 ERA and 26/14 K/BB ratio over 26 innings at Triple-A Norfolk. Gausman put up a 5.66 ERA over 47 2/3 frames with the Orioles last season but also boasted a 49/13 K/BB ratio. His stuff is electric, and Gausman will be given a chance to stick in the Orioles’ rotation for the long haul if he pitches well.
