Andy Pages Restricted From Using Dodgers’ ABS Challenges

Andy Pages has been one of the Los Angeles Dodgers best players in 2026 as he continues to improve in nearly all parts of his game, but there’s still one area he can’t seem to figure out: ABS challenge strategy.

Pages was ineffective on challenging pitches throughout the season, and that continued into Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

With no one on base and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Pages challenged a called strike on a 2-2 count. The pitch was almost completely in the zone, and the strikeout was upheld.

“We talked about it a lot this year with Andy’s success rate or lack thereof,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I didn’t revisit it before Game 1 yesterday, so that’s my fault. I did have a conversation today. So, yeah, we’ve managed that one going forward.”

As Pages continues to struggle with discerning when he should challenge pitches, Roberts was forced to make a change. The manager told the 25-year-old he is no longer allowed to challenge pitches this season.

Throughout the season, Roberts said he could reach the point of banning Pages from using them, but continued to give him the chance to learn. Instead, Pages did not show growth in that area, and he has now lost that privilege.

Pages had the 28th most challenges as a hitter during the season, but won only 44% of them, going 11-for-25. In addition, only 52% of his challenges were considered reasonable, placing him 156th among the 182 players with at least 10 challenges this year.

Pages had 55 opportunities to challenge a pitch that would have been considered reasonable, but only took 13 of them. That 24% rate placed him among the worst in the league in using his challenges when they’re deserved.

Pages has not only failed to win his challenges at a decent clip, but he has also consistently used them in low-leverage spots.

Pages was worth -1.3 runs versus expected during the season with his challenges, which was the 14th-worst among the 182 hitters with at least 10 challenges. His overturns versus expected was also -3.0, which was also among the worst in the league.

Throughout the season, Roberts stressed the importance of understanding the leverage when challenging.

Still, Roberts hasn’t completely limited his players to using them only in high-leverage spots and gives some extra leeway to players who have shown they understand the strike zone well.

“I think the team strategy, it’s different,” Roberts said. “I think some guys have a better propensity, a better success rate, understanding leverage, understanding their ability to know the strike zone. Because I trust Mookie on the ball away, but he was playing the long game, which I respect. So it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation.”

Dodgers ABS challenge stats

So far in the postseason, the Dodgers are 1-for-3 on their challenges at the plate and 1-for-2 on their challenges as the fielding team.

During the regular season, the Dodgers won 51% of their challenges while batting, which placed them ninth in MLB. On defense, they won 58% of their challenges, placing them 16th.