That hit by pitch was witnessed by 51,872 fans in attendance, and Andy Pages’ grimace was enough to send waves of worry through Dodger Stadium.
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It all happened in the bottom of the third inning, with the score tied 2-2, as Pages faced Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler. Sure, a 78-51 record may put the Los Angeles Dodgers in a comfortable position with the postseason just six weeks away. However, that leaves limited time for the All-Star center fielder to rehab his injury and return to the lineup, which is certainly a concern for a club aiming for a three-peat.
“Andy Pages has exited the game and is being replaced in center field by Kiké Hernández. Pages was hit by a pitch on his left hand back in the 3rd inning. He initially stayed in the game but has now been removed, hopefully as a precaution. Hoping for the best for Andy!” Dodgers Nation shared the footage via X.
A high-up 100.2 mph sinker went straight to the back of Pages’ left hand. The pitch appeared unintentional, and it was surely not targeted at the slugger’s helmet, but it still did the damage. Andy Pages was in visible pain, and manager Dave Roberts and a trainer were seen rushing to the batter’s box.
He initially convinced Roberts and the trainer to let him stay in the game as a baserunner. To top that, he even played center field during the top of the fourth inning. However, just when the Dodgers took the field in the fifth, Kiké Hernández was seen guarding center field, and according to the Dodgers’ latest update, their 25-year-old slugger has suffered a “left-hand contusion.”
But if the recent updates are anything to go by, then there is more devastating news. The team will now have to navigate a significant portion of the remainder of the regular season without its All-Star center fielder. He is expected to miss at least four weeks after X-rays confirmed a fracture in the back of his left hand.
The Dodgers have yet to determine whether Pages will need surgery, though the team does not expect a procedure to substantially alter his recovery timeline. If he is able to return within the projected four-to-five-week window, he could be back just in time for the postseason.
“I would expect him back, knowing him, on the earlier side,” manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s still time in the season for him to be back. But I feel for him because he was having such a good year, and he likes to play. But yeah, we’ve got to move on and hold down the fort until he’s back.”
That brings us to another question: Who will take charge in Pages’ absence?
The Dodgers have Kiké Hernández, who finished Friday’s game in center field, and Tommy Edman, who delivered the walk-off hit. Although Edman has appeared at center just twice for Los Angeles this season, he has plenty of experience at the position. Giving him more opportunities to play center could also open up additional opportunities at second base, another factor the clubhouse may weigh when deciding how to replace Pages on the 26-man roster.
There’s also Alek Thomas, who is the only other natural center fielder on the roster. Los Angeles acquired Thomas from Arizona earlier this season after he was designated for assignment. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he has posted an .855 OPS across 55 games.
Moving on, Pages is currently slashing .272/.338/.458 on the season with 21 home runs and a 119 wRC+ in 128 games. A first-time MLB All-Star, Pages is elite in terms of defense as well. He is rated at +18 Defensive Runs Saved and +9 Outs Above Average. Entering Friday, his 5.6 bWAR ranked second on the team, behind only Shohei Ohtani (6.8).
The Andy Pages news comes at a time when the Dodgers already have an inflated injury list.
The Dodgers’ IL is concerning
Catcher Will Smith is on a 60-day IL with neck disc inflammation. While he is progressing well in Los Angeles, taking live batting practice, he is still not coming back before September. Dalton Rushing is on another 10-day IL with a right partial UCL tear. He took on-field batting practice recently, but it remains highly questionable if he will be healthy enough to catch again this season.
Then there is Shohei Ohtani’s injury, which is keeping him out of the pitching action.
The Dodgers’ pitching side has taken another blow, as Tyler Glasnow is sidelined with lower-back spasms. He is currently making another Triple-A rehab start, getting comfortable with a five-inning, 75-pitch workload before rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation. However, considering Glasnow’s frequent injury history, it remains uncertain how long he’ll stay in the mix for the team.
Justin Wrobleski was placed on the 15-day IL on August 16 due to left forearm inflammation. The move is largely precautionary to manage arm fatigue as he neared a career-high workload. Edwin Diaz was placed on the 15-day IL on August 18 with neck inflammation.
As of now, the Dodgers are ranked 23rd in terms of bullpen ERA (4.63) through August 19. Moreover, they have gone 19-21 from July 1 through August 19. So, despite being a division-topper, the Dodgers are still far from being comfortable before the postseason.