The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled without Andy Pages Saturday amid a Friday scare. The first-time MLB All-Star absorbed a pitch to his left hand, forcing him out of the 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager Dave Roberts made this corresponding move with Pages dealing with a hand fracture: Elevating Alek Thomas to the lineup.
Will LA shut down Pages until the late postseason charge of September? And will undergoing surgery immediately become required?
Roberts addressed the media about Pages’ health and other things pertaining to the National League West leader Saturday. Right before facing the Pirates in the second game of the series.
But the three-time World Series winning skipper shared one six-word message that should bring relief to Dodger fans, and Pages himself.
Dave Roberts Message to Andy Pages
Roberts first shared the plan in getting Pages up to speed. And got real about the timeline expected to be in place for Pages.
“I don’t think it changes the timeline. 4 weeks is the floor for him to be back,” Roberts told reporters pregame before their home game at Chavez Ravine.
But then Roberts shared this powerful six-word message amid the discomfort Pages has faced amid the injury.
“The season’s not over for him,” Roberts said.
So unfortunately, Pages won’t likely be in the batting lineup or even outfield for the rest of August. But Pages won’t get shut down, which should alleviate concerns among LA fans. Especially during the most crucial part of the MLB season: Playoff push season.
Andy Pages Performed at High level Before Ailment
Pages started earning some long-awaited respect across the league this season. The two-time World Series winner made his mark as a strong outfielder. But swung the bat with power too including pounding five home runs in the first 16 games.
He also produced three consecutive games of reaching three hits during the stretch of April 1 to 3rd. He landed as a first-time MLB All-Star for the Philadelphia games in joining his manager and fellow Dodger stars from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.
Pages entered Friday’s game carrying a four-game hitting streak. But that became broken up once he took the hit-by-pitch. He never got the chance to finish out the 5-4 victory won in extra innings for the Dodgers.
Who Dodgers Turn to Amid Andy Pages Injury
So Roberts calls up the Oklahoma City Comets left-handed hitter Thomas in time of relief.
Thomas has blasted seven home runs down in the Triple-A realm while batting .296. And he drove 40 runners to home plate before Roberts helped make the call to bring him up.
Thomas did see brief action early on Saturday, taking two at-bats. He singled to left that drove in Kyle Tucker to cut the lead to 3-2 during the fourth inning while facing one out.
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Shares Powerful 6-Word Message to Injured Andy Pages