Will Smith’s Neck Issue Lingers as Dodgers Consider IL Move
All-Star catcher remains day-to-day as Dodgers weigh potential injured list move
LOS ANGELES, CA—Heading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Los Angeles Dodgers were hopeful that All-Star catcher Will Smith would return to the starting lineup.
That was not the case, as Smith missed his third consecutive game due to neck stiffness.
Prior to the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed to reporters that while Smith did hit and play catch before the game, the right-handed hitter still did not feel right. While, at the moment, a trip to the injured list is not on the table, the team will have to consider it if he misses more games.
Should the Dodgers place Smith on the injured list with the neck injury, they would be able to backdate the stint by three days, allowing him to miss the minimum required time of seven days.
“I think that now the IL is more of a possibility when you’re talking about a position player — it’s 10 days, and then the backdate comes into play,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s game. “We’re starting to talk about that.”
Roberts later elaborated that the stiffness is only an issue for Smith when he swings a bat and is not related to him sitting behind the plate for nine-inning games.
Smith was a late scratch from Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend, which ended up being a 1–0 walk-off win thanks to the combined efforts of Roki Sasaki and Freddie Freeman.
“He just still doesn’t feel right,” Roberts said. “I don’t know what the plan is or where we’re at on the imaging side of things. So it’s still a day-to-day situation. But for me, after talking to him and the trainers, I would like him to get through a full day before he plays. So that would probably take tomorrow off the table, and then we’ll go from there.”
Smith is also expected to sit out Wednesday’s game, with his status for Thursday still to be determined.
Still, in Smith’s absence, it has created another opportunity for young backup catcher and former top prospect Dalton Rushing to get everyday at-bats as he continues his strong sophomore season.