UPDATE (Oct. 29, 1:10 p.m. PT): Andy Pages was replaced by Alex Call in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Game 5, and Will Smith is batting second. Mookie Betts was dropped down to third.
“I feel that that’s the best way to win the game tonight,” Roberts said of moving Smith into the spot Betts has occupied for most of the year. “So both players were alerted and both players are all on board. So that was a decision I made.”
Offense continues to be an issue for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and figuring out their struggles is paramount as they are now faced with a best-of-three against the Toronto Blue Jays to determine the 2025 World Series winner.
The Dodgers’ offense has been carried to the Fall Classic by their pitching rotation, but that is an unsuitable formula against a formidable Blue Jays team.
Since Oct. 1, the Dodgers have scored more than five runs in a nine-inning game just once, and that came on the first day of the month. The only other time they have scored more than five came in Game 3 of the World Series, and it took them 18 innings to scratch across their sixth.
Although the majority of the Dodgers lineup has been unproductive, the worst has been Andy Pages, who has an on-base plus slugging percentage of just .215 in 50 at-bats. He’s also tallied only four hits, good for a .080 batting average throughout the postseason.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been considering a change, and with just two guaranteed games left in the season, or a maximum of three, it seems Pages is finally going to be replaced in the lineup.
“I’m going to think long and hard, and it might look a little bit different tomorrow,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ loss to the Blue Jays in Game 4.
One challenge for Roberts and the Dodgers are replacement options don’t inspire much confidence, either. Alex Call could take over in left field with Kiké Hernández sliding over to center field, or Miguel Rojas could play second base with Tommy Edman moving to center field.
The Dodgers have limited Edman to second base because of his ankle, but all options seem to be on the table at this point. And Edman did finish Game 3 in center field.
“Yeah, I mean I’ve got to make a decision,” Roberts said. “Essentially am I going to play Andy, am I going to play Call, or am I going to play Miggy Ro?
“So just kind of trying to think through all that stuff and net it out and see what gives us the best chance tomorrow.”
Rojas has gone 3-for-10 in the postseason so far, but also holds a .664 OPS. Call was fantastic against the Philadelphia Phillies’ left-handers, but he struggles against righties and has gone 1-for-6 since the NLDS.
Edman has also been a liability, batting .245 with a .682 OPS in 53 at-bats, and Hyeseong Kim has yet to take an at-bat in the postseason after finishing the regular season hitting .143/.160/.204 in 49 at-bats.
Regardless of what the Dodgers decide, their defense is going to take a hit, and the offense is still unlikely to be very productive, given their options.
But if they have any player who can give them a quality at-bat and take a walk, that would give a little more hope than what Pages has largely provided.
Dodgers hesitant to bench Andy Pages
Hernández is a negative defender in center field at this point in his career, and he is also only hitting .269 with a .662 OPS. Plus, given how little Hernández has played there this year, Roberts has some hesitation to make the move.
“He’s probably played a handful of innings in center field all year,” Roberts said earlier in the week. “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.”
Ideally, the Dodgers would have more confidence in moving Edman to center, but remain hesitant to because of his 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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