LOS ANGELES — Dalton Rushing was a late scratch from Sunday evening’s game against the Boston Red Sox, as the Dodgers catcher is dealing with minor arm irritation. He was replaced by Eliezer Alfonzo, who batted ninth in the final game of the homestand.
The Dodgers’ catching depth has been tested since longtime starter Will Smith was sidelined in the first week of June with neck inflammation. Smith hasn’t played since June 5, and though he has ramped up his baseball activities this week, it’s going to take considerable time for Smith to return behind the plate in Los Angeles.
Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Smith is pain free and building up strength in the weight room, but didn’t have a firm estimate on a return timetable.
“For me, it’s day to day, but I know Will is anxious to get back out there. But there has to be a progression, and games played,” Roberts said. “I just don’t see before three or four weeks.”
Since Smith last played, Rushing has started 34 of 48 games behind the plate for the Dodgers, and held his own, hitting .235/.335/.475 with a 123 wRC+ and 12 home runs on the season. Rushing has -3 catcher framing runs and -4 catching run value on defense.
Alfonzo has started eight games and before him Chuckie Robinson started six games at catcher. The duo has a combined six hits in 44 at-bats (.136) with two doubles (both by Alfonzo) and no walks.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman did not address the team’s potential need for a catcher, only speaking vaguely on Sunday about what’s left ahead of Monday’s 3 p.m. PT trade deadline.
“For us it’s trying to balance to keep one eye on the present, and one eye on the future, and balancing all of that,” Friedman said. “A lot of conversations on a number of different fronts. How likely is tough to say, but we’ll continue to work through tomorrow.”
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