WASHINGTON — The Dodgers promoted Andy Pages from Triple-A a little more than a week ago hoping he could inject some life into an outfield that was contributing little offensively (beyond Teoscar Hernandez).
Mission accomplished?
“Very impressed with Andy,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think one of the things that we bet on (with) Andy was the head, that he wasn’t going to be overwhelmed being here. Certainly he’s not. Sure, there have been some struggles, striking out at times. He just didn’t panic.
“I think it’s something that we all believed in Andy. But you have to see it to validate it and justify it as far as at this level. But it’s not surprising, I don’t think, (to) anyone in this organization or any of us that have been around him. He just has that hit tool that I talk about. It’s not a one-piece swing. He’s a hitter first with some power behind it. I like it.”
Pages has struck out 10 times in his first 31 big-league at-bats but he also had eight hits (for a .258 average) – five of them for extra bases (three doubles and two home runs), displaying the kind of power that marked him as a prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system.
Roberts has used Pages in right and center field, saying “I love him defensively – he’s engaged. … it’s a plus-plus right field arm with accuracy.”
With Jason Heyward on the injured list with a lower back strain and no apparent timetable for his return, Pages could stick around for … awhile?
“Well, everyone’s idea of awhile is relative,” Roberts said with a smile. “So – yeah, he will. My version is, yes, he will.”
BAD RECEPTION
Shohei Ohtani could be in for a rough reception when the Dodgers play in Toronto this weekend – but not because of anything he did.
Blue Jays fans had their hopes raised in December with reports that Ohtani was about to sign with them. The reports were mistaken and Ohtani announced his decision to sign with the Dodgers the next day.
“I think he should get a fine reception. A lot of that stuff that kind of came out wasn’t his doing,” Roberts said. “So it’s not like he disrespected the fan base at all. He entertained them (considered the Blue Jays’ offer) and had nice things to say about them. So I expect him to be just fine.”
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BUEHLER REHAB
Right-hander Walker Buehler’s fifth rehab start (fourth for Triple-A Oklahoma City) on Wednesday night was “what you sort of expect at altitude,” Roberts said. Buehler gave up five runs (three earned) on seven hits (including two home runs) at Albuquerque. He pitched into the fifth inning, facing one batter before finishing at 86 pitches.
“The stuff was good. Obviously the results weren’t great,” Roberts said. “But he got into the fifth inning, faced a hitter in the fifth which was good. Pitch count up, which was great. We all knew going in, to kind of evaluate at altitude like that, is very, very difficult.”
Roberts said there will be a conversation with Buehler to decide what the next step is for him.
ALSO
Roberts said right-hander Bobby Miller’s shoulder inflammation has subsided and he has begun playing catch. But there is no timetable for Miller’s return yet.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Gavin Stone, 1-1, 6.00 ERA) at Blue Jays (RHP Chris Bassitt, 2-3, 3.90 ERA), Friday, 4:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM