A week ago Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch against the Blue Jays and one would have figured it was time to give up on the Braves. The team was under .500 and despite showing that they could be pesky and hang around against the contenders they always seemed to fall a little flat. With Freeman walking towards the dugout the season looked lost.
The signing of James Loney did nothing to ease that feeling but then a surprise came. The Braves picked up Matt Adams from the Cardinals. Adams, a veteran who never seemed to have a spot, would play first base for the Braves saving fans from 100 games of Jace Pederson there.
The 28-year-old Adams had played 31 games for the Cardinals this season sporting a .292/.340/.396 line but with Matt Carpenter locked into first base for the team there was really no where to play him. His 31 games played came with just 53 at-bats. A trade to Atlanta would help the Cardinals get something for a guy they simply could not play so with minor leaguer Juan Yepez coming back to them the team made the trade.
In three games with the Braves you would be hard pressed to know that Freeman was not in the lineup. Adams has filled the part well hitting two homeruns (1 more than his time with the Cardinals) and providing a walk off hit Tuesday to lead the Braves to another win. Who would have guessed the Braves are 4-2 since losing Freeman who had led the league with 14 homers and was every bit of an early MVP candidate.
What Adams does for the rest of the season is up for debate. His career line .272/.316/.458 was probably what the Braves front office had in mind. The Braves appeared to be on the outside of the playoff picture with Freeman and a few games with Adams hitting like him have changed little. If this becomes a thing then maybe the team has a chance but it is just as likely Adams finds himself playing elsewhere after the trade deadline.
