Andy Pages, Dodgers chase series sweep vs. Nationals

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages might have been overlooked during spring training on a star-studded roster, but his hot start has everyone taking notice.

Pages is hitting 15-for-30 (.500) with three homers for the Dodgers, who look to complete a three-game series sweep of the host Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Pages slugged a three-run homer among his three hits in the Dodgers' 10-5 victory on Saturday. The 25-year-old has homered in back-to-back games with multiple hits in five straight games.

"He's having a great start," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I think that what we're seeing is he's taking professional at-bats. He's controlling the zone. He's fighting when he gets two strikes. He is hitting to all fields. Right now, he's showing he's a complete hitter. And that's really good to see."

Roberts is monitoring the status of star shortstop Mookie Betts, who exited in the middle of the first inning of Saturday's game due to right lower back pain and was replaced by Miguel Rojas.

Roberts said Betts would have an MRI exam on Saturday night and will likely miss the series finale.

Even if Betts is out for an extended period, the Dodgers boast a loaded lineup that finally appears on track and has homered six times in the last two games.

"I think pitching against us would suck, for sure. Glad I don't have to do it," Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow said. "I think talking to other guys even on other teams, there's just no break. There's no ‘Pitch around this guy to get to this guy,' because everyone is good at baseball. It makes it really hard. It's nice to be on this side of it."

Washington has lost four straight and been outscored 23-11 in the first two games against Los Angeles. One bright spot has been the play of shortstop CJ Abrams, who has homered in three straight games and has 12 RBIs through eight games.

Los Angeles will send right-hander Roki Sasaki (0-0, 2.25 ERA) to the mound in the series finale for his first career appearance against Washington.

The 24-year-old Sasaki allowed one run on four hits over four-plus innings in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians last Monday. The outing marked a step forward after Sasaki posted a 15.58 ERA over 8 2/3 innings in spring training.

Washington will counter with left-hander Foster Griffin (1-0, 3.60), who allowed two runs over five innings in a 13-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies last Monday.

The 30-year-old Griffin impressed in his first appearance in the majors since Sept. 22, 2022. He spent the last three seasons pitching in Japan.

"I felt very confident going in with the changes that I made in Japan as well as the scouting report we put together," Griffin said.

After his promising Nationals debut, Griffin faces another challenging matchup in his first career appearance against the Dodgers. Washington manager Blake Butera said his starter won't be easily rattled.

"He's like a tactician out there," Butera said. "Just the way he thinks through how he wants to attack hitters, he's like a silent assassin. He's a pretty quiet guy, but you see he's always paying attention to what's going on so he's never really surprised at any moment."

--Field Level Media