LOS ANGELES -- Four hours before first pitch, Andy Pages was putting on a one-man show at Dodger Stadium.
Pages took part in an extended simulated game before Saturday night's contest against the Giants, rotating between hitting off the machine, running the bases and playing defense. The All-Star center fielder came away feeling good, manager Dave Roberts said, and is lined up to return from the injured list as soon as Tuesday's opener against the Padres.
Pages' season hit an abrupt pause on Aug. 21, when he sustained a fracture in his left hand after being struck by a pitch. After a minor procedure on his hand, which involved inserting a compression screw to speed healing, Pages has progressed through rehab on schedule. His expected return will give him six regular-season games to get back up to speed.
"I think that we do want to get him as many at-bats as possible, but we have to make sure that his legs are under him, feeling good, so we don’t go backward or get injured in that respect," Roberts said. "It is going to be a balancing act and just keeping a keen eye on Andy, for sure."
Saturday's simulated game is the closest thing Pages will get to real game action before being activated from the 10-day IL, as the Triple-A regular season ends Sunday. Pages won't face live pitching either, because the Dodgers' injured pitchers have not progressed to the point of throwing to hitters, and their prospects have been pitching in the Minor League playoffs across various levels.
The Dodgers aren't entirely sure what kind of hitter they'll get back in Pages, coming off a hand injury with limited opportunities to build up. He was hitting .272 with a .796 OPS at the time of his injury, and his 80 RBIs remain tied for the team lead with Shohei Ohtani, who is also expected back from the IL at some point next week.
While Pages' bat could be questionable, the Dodgers feel great about getting his glove back. Pages has developed into an excellent center fielder, ranking in the 94th percentile among qualified defenders with eight outs above average, according to Statcast.
As much as the Dodgers would love for Pages to make an impact at the plate when he returns, he would provide the value they need by holding down center field. Run prevention is always important, but it's especially key in the postseason, when runs are even harder to come by.
"The defense is a big reason why he’s still a valuable player, even coming off the IL, with the uncertainty of the offense, which we’ll still bet on," Roberts said. "But playing a premium position and playing it well is hugely important."