Dodgers Outfielder Andy Pages Suffers Fractured Left Hand

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages has suffered a fractured left hand after being hit by a pitch during a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, August 21, 2026. The injury will sideline the center fielder for several weeks as the Major League Baseball regular season enters its closing stretch.

The incident occurred during the third inning of Los Angeles’ 5-4 extra-inning victory over Pittsburgh. Facing Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler, Pages was struck on the back of his left hand by a pitch. Despite taking the hit, Pages took his place on first base and subsequently advanced to third base before the inning concluded.

Pages remained on the field through the fourth inning, but he was removed from the contest prior to the start of the fifth. Enrique Hernandez entered the game as a defensive replacement to take over center field responsibilities for the remainder of the evening.

Speaking after the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the extent of the damage, stating that diagnostic tests revealed a fracture in Pages’ left hand. Roberts outlined a potential recovery window of four to five weeks, ruling out initial fears that the injury would force the outfielder to miss the remainder of the season.

“It’s not season-ending because obviously things like that it’s four or five weeks,” Roberts said. He expressed confidence that Pages would return before the end of the year, adding, “I would expect him back, knowing him, on the earlier side.”

Roberts noted that medical personnel are evaluating whether Pages will require surgery to repair the fracture. According to the manager, undergoing a surgical procedure would not alter the four- to five-week timeline projected for his return.

To address the vacancy in center field, Roberts identified utility player Tommy Edman as an option to absorb playing time in the position. Edman played a central role in Friday’s win, delivering a game-winning single in the 10th inning to lift Los Angeles past Pittsburgh.

Pages has been a prominent contributor for Los Angeles throughout the 2026 campaign, earning his first career All-Star selection earlier in the summer. At the time of his injury, the center fielder was batting .272 with 25 home runs and 80 runs batted in across the season.

Background

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in North America, with its regular season running from spring through late September before culminating in the postseason playoffs. Under baseball rules, a batter who is struck by a pitched ball outside the strike zone is awarded first base automatically. Hand and wrist fractures resulting from pitches are common injuries in baseball and typically require several weeks of immobilization or surgical repair to facilitate recovery.