The Dodgers are limping toward the postseason, and now they’ll be doing it without one of their most reliable weapons. Manager Dave Roberts just confirmed what fans had hoped they wouldn’t hear: All-Star catcher Will Smith has a hairline fracture in his hand, and while the regular season is almost certainly a no-go, his playoff status is now hanging in the balance.
A Career Year Cut Short at the Worst Time
Let’s call this what it is — a major gut punch. Smith was having a career year: a .296 batting average, a .404 on-base percentage, 17 bombs, and a top-tier 152 wRC+. The guy was basically a human on-base machine, doing it all from behind the plate with some very solid defense to boot. He wasn’t just good — he was one of the best right-handed hitters in the lineup, especially with Mookie Betts having an uncharacteristically quiet first half.
Now, with the postseason just around the corner, L.A. finds itself in a brutal spot: not only are they potentially without Smith, but their backup plan is…well…let’s talk about it.
Rushing Struggles, Rortvedt Steps In
Dalton Rushing, the kid who was supposed to be the next man up? Yeah, that plan hasn’t exactly panned out. In 47 games, he’s managed a rough .184/.246/.288 slash line with a jaw-dropping 39.1% strikeout rate. The Dodgers took a risk back in May, DFA’ing longtime backup Austin Barnes to give Rushing some room to breathe. But with October looming? That leash is looking mighty short.
Enter: Ben Rortvedt and if you’re asking, “Wait, who?” — you’re not alone. Rortvedt’s offense has been practically nonexistent this year, slashing .165/.250/.196 in a combined 39 games with the Rays and Dodgers. That’s…not exactly playoff-caliber production. But here’s the twist: the guy can catch. He’s a rock-solid defender, respected for his game-calling, and the analytics folks like what he brings behind the plate. In short: he’s not going to mash, but he might steady the ship — especially with a bullpen that’s been giving fans heartburn for weeks now.
Dodgers Eyes on the Clock — and the Core
Still, let’s not sugarcoat it. Losing Will Smith — even temporarily — forces this team to reshuffle its identity at the worst possible time. Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani are going to need to turn the dial up to eleven. The margin for error just shrank, dramatically. Because while elite pitching might win you playoff games, you still have to score.
So now we wait. Smith’s hand is in the hands of time and recovery timelines. And the Dodgers? They’re in the hands of Rortvedt, Rushing, and maybe a little postseason magic.
But if Smith can’t make it back in time, October could get real dicey, real fast.
