Dodgers Analysis: So Was Matt Strahm Tipping His Pitches? Pages & Strahm Don’t Think So
Teoscar Hernández’s three-run home run was more than just a storyline of the Dodgers taking the lead in yesterday’s game, as some fans believe lefty Matt Strahm was tipping
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Entering the sixth inning of Game One of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers’ offense was looking for some spark against left-hander Cristopher Sánchez.
The Dodgers would get that opportunity thanks to a Freddie Freeman walk and a Tommy Edman single, setting the groundwork for October hero Kiké Hernández, who pulled a two-hour two-run double, pulling the Dodgers within one run and knocking Sánchez out of the game.
The Phillies would then turn to their bullpen, which, similarly to Los Angeles, has been an issue this season.
Despite veteran right-hander David Robertson being able to get out of trouble in the sixth inning, he would put two men on with no outs entering the seventh, which prompted Phillies manager Rob Thomson to bring in lefty Matt Strahm.
Now this is where the story gets more interesting, as with Dodgers center fielder Any Pages at second base, it appeared that for multiple pitches, the outfielder was trying to peek into Strahm’s glove and see what the grip was, as the left-hander was not conecling it all too well.
When right fielder Teoscar Hernández came up to bat, Pages was seen raising his right arm just as Hernández crushed the decisive three-run blast, prompting many on social media, including Ben Verlander, to point out the possible dilemma for the Phillies.
After the game, Andy Pages was asked by The Athletic if he was relaying signs to Pages or the Dodgers dugout, to which he replied in Spanish that he wasn’t.
However, as J.T. Realmuto positioned himself inside for Strahm’s initial pitch to Hernández, Pages stretched out his right arm. Strahm threw an 89 mph cutter that stayed above the strike zone and traveled over the plate instead of inside.
As Realmuto moved inward for the second pitch, Pages once again raised his right arm. Strahm again appeared to miss his target, throwing a 91.8 mph four-seam fastball that drifted over the middle of the plate.
The evidence was there, and the situation could be true, but according to Matt Strahm himself, in a reply to Ben Verlander, he was not tipping either.
“Ben I get stirring the pot is how ya make a living since baseball didn’t pan out” Strahm replied to a post on X. “But go watch the game he did the same thing on different pitches. Oh and if ya know ball you’d know I’ve had my hands up the better part of a decade and have fingers together for all pitches.”
Before that reply, Strahm had also stated to Phillies beat reporter Matt Gelb of The Athletic that he did not believe Pages was relying signs to Teoscar Hernández during that at-bat.
Strahm, for what it’s worth, did not think Pages was relaying his pitches to Hernández by raising his right arm on both the 0-0 cutter and 1-0 fastball.
This is not the first time sign-stealing has been brought up this October regarding the Dodgers. During the Wild Card Series, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene was also tipping something off that the Dodgers ’ coaching staff saw.
While the world “sign stealing” is taboo thanks to the scandal that surrounded the 2017 Houston Astros, even if this story is true and Pages did have the read of Strahm’s pitches, his reliance on an arm gesture is completely legal and part of the game.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
