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With Andy Pages sidelined by a fractured left hand, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts laid out the team’s plan for center field going forward, per staff at DodgerBlue.com. The answer isn’t one name — it’s three. Alek Thomas, Enrique Hernández, and Tommy Edman will all factor into the position on a matchup-driven basis. Roberts made it clear after Thomas’s Dodgers debut against the Pirates that the club sees this as a legitimate committee approach, not just a stopgap.

Thomas is the newest piece. The left-handed-hitting outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday specifically to fill the void Pages left behind. Thomas has legitimate center field pedigree — he was a Gold Glove finalist during his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his defensive ability in center is a genuine asset. He profiles as a player who can step in against right-handed pitching and hold down the position defensively regardless of the matchup. His bat has been inconsistent at times during his career, but the glove plays every day. Getting him into the lineup regularly gives Roberts a defensive upgrade he hasn’t had at the position for most of this season.

Hernández — Kiké to everyone who’s watched him play for the better part of a decade — is the ultimate versatility card. He’s played all over the diamond this year, with time at third base, first base, left field, second base, and center field already in 2026. He’s not going to be an everyday center fielder, but against left-handed pitching especially, his right-handed bat gives Roberts a natural platoon option alongside Thomas. Kiké has always been at his best when he’s moving around the diamond and staying engaged, and this arrangement plays right into that.

Edman rounds out the mix. He’s primarily played second base this season but has also logged time in left field, third base, center field, and shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter with the speed and instincts to handle center field when Roberts needs him there, even if it’s not his primary home. The flexibility Edman provides allows Roberts to keep the lineup balanced without being locked into any single defensive alignment.

I like this approach. Losing Pages for four to five weeks is a real blow — he’d been the everyday center fielder and was producing — but this isn’t a team that panics. The Thomas-Hernández-Edman combination gives Roberts legitimate options against both sides of the plate and doesn’t sacrifice defense. Thomas handles the bulk of the work against righties, Kiké slides in against lefties, and Edman fills gaps wherever they appear. It’s the kind of roster flexibility Andrew Friedman’s front office has always valued, and right now it’s paying off. The key for Thomas will be settling in quickly — this is his chance to establish himself with a new organization, and consistent at-bats against right-handed pitching should help him find a rhythm at the plate. For the Dodgers, this is a manageable situation as long as the committee holds up over the next month.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: August 23, 2026 6:20 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers