The Los Angeles Dodgers just gained a major question mark going into the playoffs.
All-Star catcher Will Smith, who has been on the injured list for a week, has a small hairline fracture in his hand and is out for the rest of the regular season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Saturday. His availability for the start of the postseason is reportedly “up in the air.”
Smith was originally placed on the IL with what was called a bone bruise in his hand but further imaging revealed the fracture.
Smith has been one of the best catchers in baseball this year, and quietly over the last few years. He will finish the regular season slashing .296/.404/.497 with 17 homers in 110 games, while grading out as a solid defender and game manager behind the plate.
Without him, Roberts said the Dodgers will lean on veteran minor-leaguer Ben Rortvedt, who has been more than solid in a 13-game stint with the big-league team this season. The team also still has rookie Dalton Rushing on the active roster, though he’s struggled in intermittent action this season after entering it as a top prospect.
The Dodgers clinched the playoffs on Friday and currently hold a four-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West with eight games to play (L.A. holds the tiebreaker). While a fourth straight division title — and 12th in 13 years — seems likely, the team is well behind the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies for a wild-card bye.
That means less time for Smith to get healthy before the games start to matter more. The Dodgers have gone 6-3 in nine games since Smith’s last appearance.
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