The Los Angeles Dodgers just got a gut punch: All-Star center fielder Andy Pages suffered a broken bone in his left hand after getting hit by a pitch Friday night. The team announced he is expected to miss four weeks, which means he’s out for most of the rest of the regular season. This happened in a tense 10-inning battle that L.A. eventually won 5-4 against Pittsburgh. Pages was in obvious pain but stayed in to run the bases and even played defense before finally being pulled. What a warrior, but man, this one stings.
The Pages Problem: A Massive Hole in the Lineup
Pages, who is only 25, isn’t just some guy. He broke out last season and has leveled up big time this year. We’re talking .272/.338/.458 with 21 home runs, which landed him an All-Star nod just last month. Beyond the bat, he’s become a seriously good defensive center fielder, ranking top 10 among all outfielders, not just center fielders, in both defensive runs saved and outs above average. Manager Dave Roberts is trying to stay positive, saying he’d “expect him back” on the “earlier side” because Pages loves to play, but he also admitted they “gotta move on and hold down the fort until he’s back.” The regular season wraps up Sunday, Sept. 27, which is five weeks and one day from now. That’s a super tight window.
Here’s the kicker: for all their star power, Pages has been the Dodgers’ top right-handed hitter this season, rocking a 121 OPS+. This dude provides crucial lineup balance for an offense that generally leans left-handed. Losing that kind of production and balance, especially this late in the year, is a nightmare scenario. It’s unclear if he’ll need surgery, and that could push his timetable out even further.
Who Steps Up? The Righty Batting Order Is In Trouble
So, who’s going to fill Pages’ massive shoes? Alek Thomas is getting called up to take the roster spot. They also have super utility guys like Enrique Hernández and Tommy Edman as center field options, but neither of those looks like a great long-term fix. Hernández turns 35 on Monday and has only played 17 games around elbow and oblique injuries this season, posting a 105 OPS+. Edman missed the start of the season recovering from ankle surgery. The Dodgers probably don’t want either of them running around the outfield much, especially with their recent injury history.
The bigger issue is the overall right-handed hitting depth. Pages was leading the charge. Other righty OPS+ leaders include Will Smith at 101 (but he’s been out since June 5 with a neck injury, though he’s recently faced live pitching and could be back in early September), Miguel Rojas at 100, Teoscar Hernández at 96, and Mookie Betts at 95. Dalton Rushing is also sidelined with an elbow injury. Right now, the Dodgers are rolling with Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt, both left-handed hitters, behind the plate. The team needs some righty pop, and they need it fast.
The Dodgers are playing well, winning five straight and sitting at 78-51. They are a safe bet to win the NL West. But here’s where Pages’ absence could really sting: they’re only three games up on the Atlanta Braves for the NL’s No. 2 seed. Snagging that Wild Series bye would not only boost their World Series odds but also give Pages a few more precious days to heal up and get back to speed before the NLDS. This team, a two-time defending World Series champion, needs every edge it can get. Losing Pages now? That’s a test, and how they respond without their key righty bat will define this stretch run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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