5 Albert Pujols, 1B

Over his last 10 games, Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is hitting .300 with two home runs, eight RBI, and is sporting an .817 OPS. It's a nice little run, but it's still missing that sparking explosiveness of a Pujols hot streak. 

On the season, Pujols has been a massive disappointment, hitting .253 with a .743 OPS (both career lows, by far). Pujols had a truncated spring training as he recovered from offseason knee surgery and has done battle with plantar fasciitis since April, so the dip in numbers is somewhat understandable. The logical question now is: what do I do with him?

The best answer is "hold." In a worst-case scenario, Pujols goes on the DL for a few weeks to heal his foot and rest his knee. But he's almost guaranteed to return with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. In a best-case scenario, Pujols simply goes back to being the Fantasy stud that he is, after playing through the injuries. Either way, all roads should eventually lead to Pujols improving, so selling him may lead to little more than regret. 

Angels first baseman Albert Pujols had two RBI for the second time in five games Tuesday against the Mariners. Pujols, who was replaced as the DH Tuesday in the sixth inning after Los Angeles jumped out to a big lead, is batting .283 (15 for 53) with two home runs, four doubles, eight RBI and nine runs in his last 13 games.

Angels first baseman Albert Pujols delivered his seventh home run of the season in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the White Sox, a two-run shot in the fourth inning off White Sox starter Jose Quintana. It was Pujols's only hit in four trips to the plate, keeping his season batting average at .248.

Pujols has recorded a hit and driven in at least one run in each of his last four games. He'll try to maintain his recent success as his team's series with the White Sox extends into the weekend.

Angels first baseman Albert Pujols hit his sixth home run Tuesday against Kansas City.

Pujols finished 2 for 4 with a run and RBI. Tuesday marked just the fourth game Pujols has homered in -- his first four home runs came in a pair of two-homer games in April. Pujols is slugging just .416 after he set a career-low .516 in slugging percentage last season.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Monday he continues to face a difficult challenge in keeping first baseman Albert Pujols loose as his production remains hampered by plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Pujols has been limited by the foot issue since the season started and recorded a home run in only three separate games (five total).

When Scioscia plays him at first base to keep his left foot loose -- he's been in the field the past two games -- the 33-year-old said his foot becomes sore later in the game. However, it's difficult for Pujols to work past his issues while sitting idle on the bench as the designated hitter.

"With Albert, there's no doubt that he's been impacted by some issues to his lower body to be able to leverage the ball the way he can," Scioscia said. "There are times he feels good and times that are holding him back from what he wants to do. "Our preference right now is to get Albert healthy. And if he can nurse his way through it and be productive, that's the optimum. But if he can't, we'll consider other things."