Is Albert Pujols ... good again?
Image : Getty Images  Its been a minute  maybe even millions of them. Alberto Pujols is in the last season of a 10-year, $240 million deal, and was released by the Los Angeles Angels on May 13 of this season after hitting just .198 and reportedly rejected a bench role. But since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, hes hitting as well as he has in many years  though in limited play. Pujolss full line with the Angels this season: 24 games, 17 hits, 5 homers, 12 RBIs, and a .622 OPS. 19 games, 15 hits, 5 homers, 13 RBIs, and an .888 OPS. The sample size is as different as it is limited. The .888 OPS would even mark one thats better than any Pujols had during his time with the Angels. Advertisement  But Pujols impact has also translated into winning as the team sits at 38-25 on the season, 1.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants. In the 19 games Pujols has played, the Dodgers, who were 22-18 before his arrival, are 12-7. They actually won each of the first seven games he played in, all but one of which were starts, and theyve been victorious in 16 of their last 23. Pujols, who has hits in six of his last 12 at bats, has a .268 National League batting average this season, which he hasnt hit in a full season since 2016. Again, very small sample size, but one that sparks promise for the World Series contenders. Maybe its too soon, maybe the 41-year-old has figured something out, or perhaps its just productivity stemming from a change of scenery, which everyone needs at some point. Pujols isnt where he was on that other L.A. team, and hell be counted on in the Dodgers postseason run if this holds to a respectable degree. A watchable Albert Pujols is a win for Doyers Beisbol, as well as any baseball fan still sticking with the sport. And, for those keeping score, Pujols is 24 home runs away from Alex Rodriguezs 696. Pujols, with 10 homers this season already, would need to reach 34 in total to catch A-Rod this season for fourth all-time, which he hasnt done since 2015, his last All-Star season.