CINCINNATI -- The St. Louis Cardinals activated Matt Adams off the 15-day disabled list Friday before the start of a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Adams has been sidelined since Aug. 10 with inflammation in his right shoulder, missing 19 games. He played five games in a rehab stint at Triple-A Memphis, going 3-for-16 with a homer.
Adams' return gives the Cardinals one of their top clutch hitters. He was batting .353 with runners in scoring position -- fifth in the NL -- when he went on the disabled list. St. Louis trailed the first-place Cubs by 15½ games in the NL Central on Friday, but was in line for the second wild card behind San Francisco.