Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages is set to return on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres after missing a month with a hand fracture.
Pages suffered a fracture in his left hand on August 22nd in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A pitch hit his hand, causing the injury.
The Cuban had surgery on his broken hand shortly after, and he has since steadily increased his baseball activity.
When will Andy Pages return?
On Friday, September 18th, before the Dodgers’ home game against the Giants, Pages told AM 570’s David Vassegh he hopes to return for Tuesday’s game against the Padres.
Manager Dave Roberts has already told the media, including Dodgers Nation, that Pages would be activated at some point during the homestand.
The Dodgers will be home from Friday to Wednesday, before ending their regular season against the Giants in San Francisco.
If Pages does return on Tuesday, that would give him five games to get up to MLB game speed.
Assuming he rests one of those, Pages would have only four games to get everything clicking.
Why the Dodgers need Andy Pages back
Pages is an elite defender, with a 9.5 defensive rating, according to FanGraphs.
Tommy Edman, who has taken on the center field responsibilities, has -1 outs above average. While Pages has 8 outs above average at center field, according to Baseball Savant.
For a team that prides itself on defense, Pages presents the glove and range needed to help keep runs down and help the starting pitching stay in the game.
Pages has a 3.9 fWAR and a 119 wRC+ this season, and as a hitter, he brings a good bat-on-ball skill set.
On both ends of the field, Pages is invaluable to the Dodgers, and they will need him for the postseason.
