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.
With Socrates Brito demoted to Triple-A last week, Chris Owings has seen his playing time in the Diamondbacks outfield really solidify, yet he still remains only 15% owned in Yahoo leagues. This is a dynamic 24-year-old player who is hitting near the top of a strong lineup and playing half of his games in a hitter’s park. He could also be a tremendous boost in the stolen base category, having swiped five bases already this season without being caught. Through 22 games, Owings is slashing .294/.324/.397 with 10 runs scored and six RBI. Add in the fact that he’s eligible at second base, shortstop and the outfield, and you have the makings of a very valuable commodity in deeper mixed leagues.
