LOS ANGELES – Andy Pages went through the paces Saturday afternoon, grinding through an intense on-field workout in the clearest sign yet that he will be ready to return Tuesday to open the final home series of the regular season.
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Pages wore a fitness tracker, similar to what soccer players use to monitor all aspects of physical fitness. Coaches and staff put Pages through an estimated five simulated innings all in a compressed window of time.
The All-Star center fielder not only tested his broken left hand, but he also pushed his physical fitness to the limits.
Pages went from hitting to defense to base running and then doing it all over again to make sure he is ready for the rigors of play next week. His return is expected to come in the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.
While that kind of energy output is typically done in a rehab game, there aren’t many minor league options remaining this late in the season.
One thing Pages will not get is the chance to hit off a pitcher at full velocity.
“I think that from what I understand, we don’t have really any available arms,” manager Dave Roberts said about the prospect of a live batting practice session. “A lot of our guys are playing in playoff games in the minors, and we have (Eric) Lauer, who’s on the IL. So, we don’t really have anyone.”
It is not ideal for a player coming off the uncertainty that comes with a hand injury. But Pages did show that his hand soreness has subsided enough to hit multiple balls over the outfield wall.
“I’m expecting good at-bats,” Roberts said. “I can’t speak to the performance. I just want him to have good at-bats, and I’m not sure where he’s going to hit. Somewhere middle to the bottom (of the order), I think. I think I’m waiting just like you guys are waiting to see how it looks.”
The Dodgers close the season with six consecutive games, including the season-ending series at San Francisco next weekend.
“Six in a row, and that seems pretty aggressive (for Pages),” Roberts said. “So, 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. It is going to be a balancing act and just keeping a keen eye on Andy, for sure.”
Regardless of what his swing looks like, the Dodgers still trust him in center field. After all, his World Series-saving catch in Game 7 last season came as a late-inning defensive replacement.
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“Playing a premium position and playing it well is hugely important,” Roberts said.
ROTATING THE ROTATION
Left-hander Blake Snell is not expected to pitch in the upcoming series against the Padres, but he has not been ruled out for the series against the Giants next weekend.
Snell left his start Thursday after one inning at Cincinnati because of groin discomfort.
“He’s trending very well,” Roberts said about Snell’s recovery in recent days.
Right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to pitch in the upcoming series against the Padres, although his role has not yet been specified. There is a chance Sasaki could start a game against San Diego, or come out of the bullpen, which had been his expected role in the postseason.
“it will be multiples for sure,” Roberts said about Sasaki’s innings count. “I just don’t know exactly when.”
A LEADING MAN
Shohei Ohtani is still expected to return to play before the regular season ends next Sunday, although there remains no target date.
In the meantime, the Dodgers continue to weigh their options in the leadoff spot. Tommy Edman was there immediately after Ohtani went on the injured list earlier this month, Josue De Paula took a turn there and Mookie Betts has been the latest to stake a claim.
Betts hit two home runs from the leadoff spot Friday and was back at the top of the lineup Saturday.
“Yeah, I think that certainly there is an uncertainty with Shohei, all the while expecting him to be back,” Roberts said. “But you do got to kind of prepare for whatever, and I just think that Mookie’s swinging the bat well, has hit there many times throughout his career, so it just kind of makes sense.”
Betts had three hits Wednesday at Cincinnati and three more Friday against the Giants in the leadoff spot, including two home runs. He is batting .356 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 September games.
ALSO
The Dodgers are expected to select a pitcher to pick up bulk innings Sunday in a hybrid bullpen game against the Giants, but the exact plan remains undetermined.
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UP NEXT
Giants (TBA) at Dodgers (TBA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m.), SportsNet LA, 570 AM, 1020 AM