Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages is officially out with a broken left hand, and man, this is a gut punch for a team already struggling for consistent outfield production. The guy, their *only* truly productive outfielder all season, took a nasty 100.2-mph fastball right to his left hand from Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler in the third inning of Friday’s win. Now, he’s sidelined for what manager Dave Roberts expects to be 4-5 weeks, and that is brutal news for Los Angeles.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Pages Was Carrying This Outfield
Seriously, think about it: Pages wasn’t just good, he was *elite* this season. In only his third major league year, he already earned an All-Star Game start, showing everyone his capability. He was absolutely raking, hitting .272/.338/.458 with 21 bombs and rocking a 119 wRC+. But it wasn’t just the bat. Pages is a complete player, excelling defensively too. He’s got 18 defensive runs saved, nine outs above average in center field, and he leads all major leaguers with an incredible 13 outfield assists. This dude does *everything* for them. He’s been the everyday guy, starting 125 of 129 games in center. Now, with his left hand fractured, the Dodgers lose their sole source of reliable outfield production. It’s a massive blow, man, just massive.
Who Steps Up When the Outfield’s a Mess?
So who steps up and fills those massive cleats in center? Manager Dave Roberts made it abundantly clear the priority now is defense, and honestly, he *has* to make that the focus. Because outside of Pages’ stellar play, their outfield production has been a struggle, to say the least. Guys like Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández are barely treading water, sitting just above replacement level, combining below-average offense with outright bad defense in the corner spots. That’s just not going to cut it. Roberts is looking at some familiar faces for replacements. Tommy Edman has center field experience, but he’s been playing second base regularly. Kiké Hernández also has center field experience. But get this: among all the options on their 40-man roster, Alek Thomas is the *only other true center fielder* Roberts can call upon. Roberts put it bluntly, saying, “You’ve got to be mindful of the defense,” and emphasized, “The main thing is locking down center field.” Good luck, Roberts, because Pages was doing that all by himself. Finding that kind of two-way production is gonna be a serious challenge.
The good news, if there is any, is that Pages could be back in 4-5 weeks. Roberts specifically mentioned he expects him back on the “earlier side,” and that it’s “not season-ending.” He even added, “There’s still time in the season for him to be back.” Let’s hope Roberts is right, because without him, the Dodgers’ outfield is staring at a huge, gaping hole for the rest of the regular season. This is a tough pill to swallow for them, losing such a crucial piece in late August. Here’s hoping he heals fast and makes a strong return!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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