LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers known as up Andy Pages as a result of they wanted an on a regular basis outfielder, and up to now he's finished all the pieces he can to make sure he stays in that function for the foreseeable future.
Pages' newest win got here Friday night time in opposition to the Braves, his first four-game hitting streak within the main leagues, capped by an Eleventh-inning walk-off single to cap a 4-3 victory, the tenth win for the Dodgers in 15 video games since inserting Pages into their lineup.
“He's all the time attempting to be a greater participant,” mentioned Teoscar Hernández, who homered earlier within the recreation. “In the present day he confirmed us that he’s made for an amazing recreation.”
“Each time he will get in there, he appears to take a very good hit,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “The second definitely doesn't get too huge for him.”
“In these moments, I attempt to not be too anxious,” Pages mentioned after his game-winner. “I've had experiences the place I've been somewhat out of character, however I simply attempt to keep composed and do my job.”
Friday was the primary of Pages' four-hit streak within the majors, however he has three four-hit streaks within the minors — for rookie degree Ogden in 2019, for Excessive-A Nice Lakes in 2021, and with Double-A Tulsa in 2022. .
“It's nice,” mentioned Gavin Stone, who began on the mound Friday and pitched six robust innings. “We've come collectively, and seeing him thrive has been actually, actually enjoyable to look at.”
Since becoming a member of the Dodgers on April 16, Pages is tied for the crew lead in RBI (11) and runs scored (12), is second in hits (20) and extra-base hits (eight).
“I really like the battle. There have been undoubtedly some balls that had been off the plate, and Jesse [Chavez] I used to be attempting to be very cautious with him, however he wasn't going to let anyone win that recreation for us tonight.”
Pages can be fourth on the crew in OPS and wRC+ over the past 15 video games, behind the heavyweights on the high of the lineup:
- Mookie Betts 1.005 OPS, 192 wRC+
- Shohei Ohtani .994 OPS, 189 wRC+
- Will Smith 1.019 OPS, 179 wRC+
- Andy Pages .921 OPS, 160 wRC+
That Pages offers the Dodgers manufacturing from the underside of the order – 80 % of their plate appearances are batting seventh, eighth or ninth – offers life to a extra dormant backside third of the lineup that , enter the Saturday, it was proper. 205/.272/.293, twenty fifth within the majors in OPS. Imagine it or not, it's an enormous enchancment from earlier than Pages arrived.
“He stabilized our formation, added lengthy. He performed very nicely in protection within the central discipline and in the best discipline, and he had a very good batting high quality.
If there’s a quibble with Pages in the intervening time, it’s that he didn’t stroll in 65 plate appearances. However he's not hitting a ton, his charge is 20 % higher than common. Pages struck out 9 occasions in his first 17 PA, however has struck out simply 4 occasions in 48 PA since.
It helps that he's hitting .333/.364/.567, and he's hitting the ball laborious (44.9 % of his batted balls are 95+ mph), so his anticipated numbers are a .296 batting common and . 509 slugging proportion.
A spot for Pages opened up when Jason Heyward's again damage was worse than anticipated, and Pages took over. There will likely be a degree when Heyward returns — most likely no less than per week and a half away — and a roster resolution must be made.
Certain Pages continues to be comparatively inexperienced, with simply 16 video games in Triple-A earlier than his 15 video games within the majors. However he's doing all the pieces to show he belongs within the majors, and on the Dodgers he's not the one outfielder with choices who may very well be despatched out, man.
“Clearly, we imagine within the participant, the individual. However it’s a must to come on the market and do it,” Roberts mentioned of Pages. “In a younger participant – he’s 23 years outdated – you don't know what you’ve. Now he checks loads of bins and will get on the ball. He creates his personal alternatives.”