Andy Pages is entering Game 2 with an .077 batting average in these playoffs, and coming off a 0-for-four performance in Game 1 in which he struck out twice — including once with the bases loaded and only one out.
However, manager Dave Roberts is keeping Pages in the lineup for now, slotting him in ninth once again for Game 2 of the Fall Classic.
While Roberts said he has “contemplated” taking Pages out of the lineup — the Dodgers could replace him with a more contact-minded hitter like Alex Call — he hasn’t made such a move yet, in part because of the defense Pages provides in center.
“He’s playing very sound defense,” Roberts said, “which is a big part of why he’s in there.”
One other limitation that has kept Pages in the lineup: The Dodgers’ inability to play second baseman Tommy Edman in the outfield as they did last postseason, as he continues to nurse a lingering ankle problem.
“To not have the ability to kick him out to the outfield has certainly minimized some of that versatility, absolutely,” Roberts said.
Still, Roberts conceded that the Dodgers “need to see some kind of uptick in consistency of performance” from the second-year outfielder, who hit 27 home runs in the regular season but has just one extra-base hit this October.
And more generally, Roberts wants to see improved at-bat quality in situational opportunities from his entire offense, with the team batting just .227 with runners in scoring position so far in the playoffs — and having failed to score more than five runs in a game since the wild-card round.
“My hope is that once we create stress, then we can sort of finish off innings,” Roberts said. “I think we’re doing a good job of getting there, but we got to do a better job of finishing, which I think that we’re certainly capable of doing.”