PT TOMORROW: AL WEST—The Pujols problem
Mar 12 2020
Who will spell Albert Pujols (1B/DH, LAA) at 1B? The club still seems committed to their 40-year-old first-basemen largely due to the $60m that remains on his contract through 2021. But Shohei Ohtani will be the club's DH when not the mound, and Pujols's creaky lower body has left him with just 168 1B starts over 2018-19—a number isn't likely to improve going forward. Further complicating the picture is Pujols's ongoing decline vR, against whom he posted a .236 BA with just 12 HR over 326 AB in 2019.
The best left-handed-hitting complement guesses for now would be Matt Thaiss (1B/3B, LAA) and Jared Walsh (1B/LHP, LAA), both of whom are currently battling for Opening Day utility roles. Always a patient hitter, Thaiss...
Almost!
You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
More From PT Tomorrow
We take a tour of NL West prospects with Ryan somewhere in their names and then use team-wide stats to look at why the Padres have had success while the Giants have struggled mightily.
Jun 6 2026 8:34pm
Jun 6 2026 8:34pm
The Brewers pitching continues to be elite and deep
Jun 5 2026 3:06am
Jun 5 2026 3:06am
Royals closer Lucas Erceg has been a mess lately—who could the team turn to as a replacement? Plus, CHW outfield playing time outlook, hitting prospects learning new positions in CLE, the nearly-restored rotation in DET, and Royce Lewis tearing it up in Triple-A for the Twins.
Jun 4 2026 3:05am
Jun 4 2026 3:05am
Miami's rotation has sustained casualties and attrition, leaving a thinned-out platoon—and opportunity. Plus: Manaea at NYM; prospect SS in PHI; prospect SP in WAS; SS in ATL; more.
Jun 3 2026 10:15am
Jun 3 2026 10:15am
With Max Muncy returning from the IL, the A's will need to shuffle up the lineup, meaning Zack Gelof could be changing positions again.
Jun 3 2026 3:06am
Jun 3 2026 3:06am
