Andy Pages to undergo hand X-rays after HBP

There’s still no clear timeline for his potential return to action, but it’s encouraging to hear that the procedure was minor. As long as the Dodgers have him back in time for the postseason, they’re not going to rush his rehab.

Pages can be dropped in nearly all redraft fantasy leagues as he’s expected to miss 4-5 weeks after suffering the injury when he was hit by a pitch during Friday’s game against the Pirates. The 25-year-old was in the midst of a stellar campaign where he was delivering second-round fantasy value, hitting .272/.338/.458 with 72 runs scored, 21 homers, 80 RBI and 12 steals in 550 plate appearances. It sounds like there’s a chance he’s back at the end of the regular season and should be ready to roll by the time the Dodgers kick off the postseason. It’ll be a combination of Alek Thomas, Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernández taking over in center field during his absence.

Thomas isn’t the most exciting option from a pure fantasy perspective, but he makes the most sense as a short-term stopgap for the Dodgers with Andy Pages set to miss 4-5 weeks with a fractured hand. The 26-year-old defensive specialist is an excellent defender in center field and is already on the 40-man roster. He’ll split time with Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernández for the next couple weeks. There’s a chance that a top prospect like Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota or James Tibbs III get a look once rosters expand, but that seems unlikely at this juncture.

Pages underwent X-rays that revealed the fracture after being hit by a pitch during the early stages of Friday’s game against the Pirates. Roberts didn’t say how the Dodgers intend to replace Pages, but former Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas, who is already on the 40-man roster, seems like the obvious choice. He could come up and play against most righties, with Tommy Edman moving to center against lefties. That would free up some infield time for Enrique Hernández and Miguel Rojas. There’s an extremely small, but non-zerp possibility that the Dodgers bring up one of their top outfield prospects like Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, or James Tibbs III.

Pages scored the Dodgers’ first run on Mookie Betts’ first-inning single and later broke a 1-1 tie with the homer in the fifth. It’s his second straight 20-homer season, as he finished with 27 last year. He’s not a sure thing to surpass that total this year, but he is going to cruise past his mark of 86 RBI from last year; he’s tied for ninth in the majors with 77 right now.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is shaking things up by moving Freddie Freeman up to the second spot in the order with Andy Pages following and Tucker in the cleanup spot. Max Muncy and Mookie Betts remain in the middle of the lineup with Teoscar Hernández on the bench.

Pages had a two-run single after Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked in the second and an RBI double in the seventh. That brings his season total to 74 RBI, which ranks sixth in the majors.

Emerson Hancock struck out Shohei Ohtani to begin the bottom of the first, but Pages immediately followed with a homer. He later picked up another RBI on an infield single in the fourth. That puts Pages up to 71 RBI on the season. He’s tied for eighth in the majors there, even though he’s mostly hit second and seventh.

Pages immediately followed Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff homer in the first with a second solo shot. It was his 17th homer of the year, though just his second in a month, and his 65th RBI, which is tied for eighth in the majors.

It’s a planned day off for both Betts and Andy Pages, so no need for fantasy managers to worry here. Miguel Rojas will start in his place at shortstop and will bat eighth against Angels’ right-hander Jose Soriano.