The Dodgers got some good news ahead of today’s Wild Card series. Will Smith, out since September 9 with a hairline fracture in his right hand, might be available this week after all.
Smith took live at-bats
off Bobby Miller and Kyle Hurt on Monday and showed no signs of lingering issues, writes Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register.
There’s good reason to proceed with caution, though. The Dodgers can enter the Wild Card series with three catchers, but if Smith has to get taken off the active roster due to injury, he’ll be ineligible for the division series against the Philadelphia Phillies if the Dodgers advance.
“If there’s a risk of having to do that, then we’ll take that on,” said Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes. “But the understanding of needing him for a full month and not maybe just a few days, that’ll all get baked into the decision.”
There are risks all around, but Dalton Rushing and Ben Rortvedt have proven that they can handle things if Smith ends up needing more time off.
Dodgers Notes
Blake Snell can’t wait to get the ball for tonight’s start, writes Jack Harris at the Los Angeles Times. Since 2020, Snell has worked hard to be the best pitcher possible, and now, he’s getting the chance to prove himself in the postseason once again.
Brock Stewart announced on X yesterday that his arthroscopic surgery was a success and that he’s “looking forward to crushing another rehab process.” He pitched in four games for the Dodgers this season before a shoulder injury sidelined him and be out for part of the 2026 season while he recovers.
At the beginning of the season, the Dodgers were poised for a decisive World Series win. Now, with no one team emerging as a true powerhouse, October looks much different than anticipated. Jeff Passan at ESPN breaks down what this means for the sport and its analytic-driven decision making processes.
