Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages and third baseman Max Muncy are officially top three finishers for the 2026 Gold Glove Awards in the National League. This is a massive shoutout from Rawlings, recognizing their defensive prowess this season. This is huge for both players, but Pages? Man, his defensive leap in just his third major league season is absolutely wild. He’s been out there making plays like a seasoned vet, and the stats back it up.
Pages’ Defensive Surge is Absolutely Electric
Forget just being a finalist, Pages has been a brick wall in center! Through August 9, his SDI score was a solid 12.0. That puts him right behind the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (13.4) among NL center fielders, and miles ahead of the Braves’ Michael Harris II (6.3). But get this: Pages didn’t just lead center fielders, he led *all* National League outfielders with a ridiculous 14 assists! Think about that for a second. He also topped the entire NL outfield with 20 Defensive Runs Saved. Crow-Armstrong was second, way back at 16 DRS. And his +13 Fielding Run Value? That’s third in the majors and second in the NL, only behind Crow-Armstrong’s insane +26. This isn’t just good; it’s elite, game-changing defense, and it’s why everyone, from coaches to the analytics nerds, is buzzing about him.
Muncy’s Top-3 Spot and The Unfortunate Twist
Now, shifting to third base, Max Muncy is also in the top three for the NL Gold Glove. He’s up against the Cubs’ Alex Bregman and the Marlins’ Javier Sanoja. Muncy actually had the highest SDI score among this specific trio through August 9, clocking in at +4.8. Bregman was at 4.5, and Sanoja at +2.6. But let’s keep it real: Muncy had 2 Defensive Runs Saved and a totally average, dare I say vanilla, zero Fielding Run Value. Meanwhile, Bregman tied for the NL lead with a beastly 15 Defensive Runs Saved, and Sanoja tied for the league lead with a respectable +5 Fielding Run Value. It’s definitely a head-scratcher when you look at those numbers.
And speaking of head-scratchers, here’s where it gets interesting: San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman was crushing it defensively. He led *all* NL third basemen with an SDI score of +11.9. He also tied for the lead at the position in Defensive Runs Saved (15) and Fielding Run Value (+5). So why isn’t he a finalist? Brutal luck, man. Chapman only played 718 2/3 defensive innings all season. Gold Glove rules are strict for infielders: you need at least 750 innings by your team’s 138th game to qualify. He barely missed it because he hasn’t played since June 30. That’s gotta sting!
This is Muncy’s second time finishing in the top three for a Gold Glove. He was considered at first base back in 2021, but Paul Goldschmidt, then with the Cardinals, ended up taking home the trophy.
So, the suspense is real! We’ve got two Dodgers hoping to snag some serious hardware. We’ll find out who wins on Sunday, November 1. Tune into ‘Baseball Tonight’ on ESPN to see the big reveal. You know I’ll be watching!
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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