Andy Pages finished second on the Los Angeles Dodgers with 27 home runs and was plenty productive throughout much of the year, but the postseason has been a different story.
Although far from the only hitter in the Dodgers lineup who has struggled, Pages is at the top of that list. He nevertheless has started in center field for all 12 of the Dodgers’ playoff games so far.
“He has struggled this postseason,” manager Dave Roberts acknowledged prior to Game 2 of the World Series. “What I need from him is to have quality at-bats, to be able to get on base, to win 3-2 pitches. He’s playing very sound defense, which is a big part of why he’s in there.
“Being in the nine-hole, I’m not expecting him to carry the offense, but still be a contributor.”
Pages proceeded to go 1-for-4 with a run scored in the Dodgers’ win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
With only a limited number of games remaining and a dynasty-cementing opportunity hanging in the balance, Roberts is evaluating the Dodgers’ options for a possible change in center field.
“I have contemplated other decisions. I’m keeping a close eye on it,” he said. “I still need to see some kind of uptick in consistency of performance. So when and if I decide to change — I haven’t decided that — but I’m being mindful.”
How would Dodgers replace Andy Pages?
If Roberts elected to make a change in center field for the remainder of the World Series, options are somewhat limited. The most likely would appear to be shifting Kiké Hernández over from left field, but even that comes with some hesitation.
“He’s probably played a handful of innings in center field all year,” Roberts noted of Hernández. “Andy’s been plus in center field. So when you’re in the middle of the diamond, the defense certainly matters. But so does the offense. So I think for me it’s trying to weigh it all and sum it up, but it’s not Andy’s sole responsibility as far as the offensive inconsistencies.
“I just refuse to put that on a nine-hitter.”
In an ideal world, the Dodgers would have the option to shift Tommy Edman into center field like earlier this season, but remain hesitant to do so in the interest of keeping him healthy after battling lingering right ankle trouble.
“Potential injury risk and he hasn’t taken a fly ball out there in a month. So I’m just not sure where he’s at,” Roberts said.
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