Dodgers Suffer a Blow as All-Star Andy Pages Breaks Hand

The Los Angeles Dodgers have suffered a significant blow to their chances of winning their third consecutive World Series title. All-Star center fielder Andy Pages has been ruled out for most of the remainder of the regular season after suffering a broken bone in his left hand.

Pages was hit by a pitch during the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, and although he remained in the game to run the bases, he was eventually removed due to the severity of the injury. The 25-year-old is expected to miss four weeks, although it remains unclear whether he will require surgery and what that would mean for his recovery timeline.

Manager Dave Roberts expressed his concern for Pages, stating, ‘I would expect him back. Knowing him, on the earlier side.’ Roberts acknowledged that there is still time in the season for Pages to return, but emphasized the importance of holding down the fort until he is back.

Pages has been a key player for the Dodgers this season, hitting .272/.338/.458 with 21 home runs, which earned him a spot in the All-Star Game last month. He has also become a top 10 outfielder in defensive runs saved and outs above average.

The Dodgers will rely on center fielder Alek Thomas, who has been called up to fill the roster spot, as well as super utility men Enrique Hernández and Tommy Edman. However, Hernández is 35 years old and may not be able to spend much time running around the outfield, while Edman has been dealing with ankle surgery and may not be fully fit.

Pages’ absence will be felt, particularly given his emergence as the Dodgers’ top right-handed hitter. He provides important lineup balance for an offense that typically leans left-handed. Here are the team’s OPS+ leaders among righty hitters:

• Andy Pages: 121
• Enrique Hernández: 105 (only 17 games played around elbow and oblique injuries)
• Will Smith: 101 (out since June 5 with a neck injury)
• Miguel Rojas: 100
• Teoscar Hernández: 96
• Mookie Betts: 95

The Dodgers are still confident in their chances of winning the World Series, despite the setback. They have won five straight games and are a safe bet to win the NL West. However, they are only three games up on the Atlanta Braves for the NL’s No. 2 seed and thus a Wild Series bye. A bye would not only up the team’s World Series odds, it would also give Pages a few more days to heal and get back up to speed before the NLDS.

The regular season ends on Sunday, September 27, which is five weeks and one day away. The Dodgers will need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome the loss of Pages and make a deep run in the playoffs.