LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers got their center fielder back on Tuesday, but they aren't expecting Andy Pages to immediately pick up where he left off at the plate. And right now, they don't necessarily need him to.
When Los Angeles activated Pages from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the San Diego Padres -- optioning Eliezer Alfonzo in a corresponding move -- it brought an end to a month-long absence caused by a fractured left hand. With just six regular-season games remaining before the postseason, Pages’ primary task isn't carrying the offense. It's solidifying the outfield defense.
Pages sustained the fracture on Aug. 21 and underwent a minor surgical procedure to insert a compression screw, an intervention designed to accelerate the bone's healing process. While his recovery stayed on track medically, his physical buildup happened almost entirely in isolation.
Because the Triple-A season concluded over the weekend and internal live-pitching options were unavailable at Dodger Stadium, Pages did not face live arms before being thrown back into Major League action. The Dodgers' Minor League affiliates were deep into playoff runs, and injured internal arms were not far enough along to throw live batting practice, leaving Pages to prepare solely through machine work and a simulated game on Saturday.
Front-hand fractures are notoriously difficult for hitters to bounce back from immediately, as the lead hand controls bat path and turn-through at contact. Because of those physical constraints and the lack of live game reps, expectations for Pages' offensive production over this final week are tempered. Before going down, he was having a standout season, batting .272 (including a .288 mark in August) with an .796 OPS and tying Shohei Ohtani for the team lead with 80 RBIs.
Replicating that midseason rhythm at the plate right away is an unrealistic expectation. But while the Dodgers expect his timing against Major League pitching to take a few games to surface, his defensive value is immediate and undeniable.
According to Statcast metrics on Baseball Savant, Pages ranks in the 94th percentile among qualified defenders with eight outs above average. He has transformed center field into a strength for Los Angeles. In the postseason, where run prevention often dictates close games, having a trusted glove in center field provides a massive floor for manager Dave Roberts -- regardless of how the bats fare.
"The defense is a big reason why he’s still a valuable player, even coming off the IL, with the uncertainty of the offense, which we’ll still bet on," manager Dave Roberts said. "But playing a premium position and playing it well is hugely important."
Physically, the team feels comfortable throwing him right back into the fire. While Roberts acknowledged on Saturday that balancing Pages' workload over six straight games would require careful monitoring, he noted on Tuesday that Pages' lower-half conditioning puts him in a good spot to play full games right away.
"I think that I feel good with him playing nine," Roberts said. "He's worked real hard on his lower half, his legs, conditioning, all that stuff. So if I have to manage him, we could do that pivot, get him out of there, get somebody in there to play defense, things like that. But I think right now, the thought is for him to play out each game."