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Story summary
The Dodgers clamped down on Andy Pages' usage of the Instant Replay Review (ABS) challenges after Pages' poor decision-making in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies. In his first at-bat during Game 1, Pages challenged a two-strike pitch which was confirmed as an obvious strike, costing the team their last challenge for the remainder of that game. This incident followed a season where Pages had lost his starting lineup spot despite having some highlight moments, such as hitting a chopper in a crucial NLDS game and being involved in an iconic catch against the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series. Manager Dave Roberts admitted to not addressing this issue with Pages before Game 1 but confirmed after that they have since decided to restrict Pages from making ABS challenges due to his low success rate, which was only 44% and among the lowest for hitters on the team with at least five challenges.
Written for “Dodgers Pitching Issues” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 56261 · logged 2026-10-05
Dave Roberts said earlier this season that the Dodgers could bar certain players from using ABS challenges if they didn’t exercise sound judgment.
uncertain
they → say → judgment
For Andy Pages, that moment has arrived.
asserted
moment → arrive → Pages
In Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, Pages made the ill-advised decision to challenge a two-strike pitch in his first at-bat that was confirmed as an obvious strike.
asserted
that → make → strike
That left the Dodgers with just one more challenge the rest of the game — a costly mistake that marked Pages’ latest failure with MLB’s newly instituted ABS system this year.
asserted
that → leave → system
“We talked a lot this year about Andy’s success rate or lack thereof [with ABS],” Roberts said, after Pages lost a team-high 14 challenges this year and had a 44% success rate that ranked fifth-worst among the club’s hitters (minimum five challenges).
asserted
that → talk → hitters
“I didn’t revisit it before Game 1 yesterday, so that’s my fault,” Roberts added.
asserted
Roberts → revisit → 1
“I did have a conversation today.
asserted
I → have → conversation
So, yeah, we’ve managed that one going forward.”
asserted
we → manage → one
Does that mean the Dodgers have told Pages not to use challenges now?
“Yes,” Roberts answered flatly.
asserted
Roberts → mean → challenges
Utilizing the ABS system, of course, was one of the few things Pages didn’t do well this year.
asserted
Pages → utilize → things
In the regular season, he earned a first career All-Star selection while batting .274 with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs and a .811 OPS.
asserted
he → earn → runs
He also cemented himself as one of the top center fielders in the sport, providing enough all-around production to lead all Dodgers position players with 4.5 wins above replacement, according to Fangraphs (even in just 134 games played).
uncertain
He → cement → games
However, October was always going to pose a test for the burgeoning 25-year-old, and not just because he only recently returned from a fractured hand that sidelined him for much of September.
asserted
that → go → September
In last year’s playoffs, Pages endured a nearly historic postseason slump.
asserted
Pages → endure → slump
He went just 4-for-51 in 16 games.
asserted
He → go → games
He struck out 11 times without hitting a home run.
asserted
He → strike → run
And though he had a couple highlight moments — hitting the chopper that led to Orion Kerkering’s NLDS-clinching error against the Phillies, and trucking teammate Kiké Hernández for his iconic catch against the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series — he had nonetheless lost his spot in the starting lineup by the end of the team’s World Series run.
asserted
he → have → run
How he would respond this fall loomed as a question all year.
asserted
respond → respond → question
That’s why Saturday’s ABS challenge was so alarming, serving as one of several signs to Roberts that Pages was “trying to do too much” during his 0-for-4, three-strikeout Game 1 performance.
asserted
Pages → ’ → performance
“I just want to see him kind of slow down a little bit,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → want → ?
“Because, again, he came into this postseason really good.”
asserted
he → come → postseason
Moving forward, he will have at least one less dynamic to worry about.
asserted
he → move → dynamic
For now, he’s been given the red light on ABS challenges.
asserted
he → give → challenges
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