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The Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves stifled at the plate in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, as the Atlanta Braves employed a bullpen game for the second straight contest, utilizing six pitchers to neutralize LA's potent lineup. Now, the Braves return home with their top two starters, Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle, lined up to potentially clinch the series on their own turf. If the Dodgers hope to stave off a surprising first-round elimination, their offense must rediscover its form.
Manager Dave Roberts cannot afford to passively wait for the bats to heat up against one of the league's elite pitchers. Instead, he must make a bold move: insert a player with a proven track record in high-pressure situations and bench a struggling All-Star. Center fielder Andy Pages endured a dismal 2025 postseason, managing just four hits in 51 at-bats. He was eventually benched during the World Series but redeemed himself with a game-saving defensive play in Game 7.
This season, Pages enjoyed a breakout first half, earning his first All-Star nod and occasionally carrying the Dodgers' offense. However, a 100.2 mph fastball in August fractured his hand, sidelining him until the final six games of the regular season. Although he showed no rust upon return—going 6-for-18 with two home runs—his postseason woes have resurfaced. Through the first two games of this series, Pages is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts.
Roberts acknowledged "a little bit" of concern regarding his center fielder. "He's in a much better spot than he was last year," Roberts said before Game 2, in which Pages went 0-for-3. "I just want to see him check down a little bit more, chase hits instead of slug. I just want to see him kind of slow down a little bit because, again, he came into this postseason really good, had a good week. This past week was great work. Just want to make sure he kind of just checks down a little bit."
The Dodgers are not ready to give up on Pages after just two playoff games. Yet, with the lineup desperate for a spark and Pages continuing to demonstrate an inability to deliver in the postseason, the team should turn to utility man Enrique Hernandez for Game 3. Hernandez can either patrol center field or take over second base, with Tommy Edman shifting to the outfield.
Even a one-game change would signal to the rest of the lineup that production is paramount. Furthermore, Hernandez—a known playoff performer—could provide the jolt the team desperately needs. In 104 career postseason games, he owns a .272 batting average with 16 home runs and an .826 OPS. The Dodgers cannot afford to waste time. If the offense falters again against Sale, they could face elimination before a Game 4 in Atlanta. It's time to make a change.
Key Analysis
The Dodgers' decision to potentially bench Pages for Hernandez reflects a broader strategic dilemma: balancing faith in a young player's long-term development against the immediate urgency of playoff survival. Pages' regular-season resurgence after a hand injury offered hope, but his playoff track record—both last year and now—suggests a psychological or mechanical hurdle that may not be overcome in time. Hernandez, meanwhile, brings a veteran presence and a proven postseason résumé that could stabilize a lineup teetering on the brink. Roberts' move, if made, would not only address a positional need but also send a clear message that accountability trumps potential in October. With Sale looming in Game 3, the margin for error is razor-thin, and the Dodgers' season may hinge on this single adjustment.