RADIO
Chris Zolli profiles first baseman Albert Pujols as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 20 of the 2018 MLB season for his strong start to the season.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
OWNED IN: 40% of leagues
ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is currently on the disabled list with knee inflammation but the well-timed All-Star break gives him the possibility of returning fully healthy for the second half. Since the All-Star break (July 23), Pujols has only had two hitless games and has two home runs and four doubles in the same time span.
Even at 38 years old, Pujols continues to smack the ball with authority, with a Hard-Hit rate better than he has in the last seven years (41.8%). Unfortunately, he is swinging at more pitches outside of the zone (37.5%), but he does have better contact with pitches inside the zone (92%) as well as a better-than-average swinging strike rate (8.3%). Pujols routinely slots in at the five-hole behind Andrelton Simmons, Mike Trout, and Justin Upton, a good spot for RBI as well.
His aged, but still good, batting eye combined with his spot in the lineup will provide plenty of RBI chances. Pujols is not the player he once was, but he has a chance of finishing the year with 25 homers and maybe even pushing for 30. This may be the last run for Pujols, but fantasy owners need to take another look at the Hall of Famer.
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