Matt Adams (1B, STL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

Baller Move: Add in all leagues

Owned in: 28% of Fleaflicker leagues

Analysis: As a 23rd round draft pick of 2009 out of Slipper Rock University of Pennsylvania, 27-year-old Matt Adams has turned out to be quite a bargain for the Cardinals since 2013 when he first made his major league presence felt. Though he has struggled with injuries in the past, Adams has worked well on balancing out his power and contact at the plate and it is culminating well for the third best run scoring Cardinals offense. In 157 AB this season, he has a slash line of .299/.347/.535 with nine home runs. Adams is producing career high HR and XBH percentages at 5.3% and 11.2% with the help of a career high isolated power figure of .236. These slugging figures are very impressive considering the very pitcher-friendly conditions of Busch Stadium.

He may be striking out frequently at 23.5%, but he is walking at an improved clip of 6.5% and his line drive rate of 26% is frequent enough to help sustain his .349 BABIP. Adams may be a little easy to forget given his frequency on the DL, but 72% of Managers should remember and quickly.