Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Will Smith was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Saturday due to a stiff neck and despite manager Dave Roberts indicating he would start the next day, it was Dalton Rushing again behind the plate in the finale of the Freeway Series.
“It’s not serious, but it’s something that is preventing him from playing,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ loss on Sunday. “As I sat here [Saturday] and felt confident he was going to be in there today, it got a little bit better but not enough to play.”
Now having missed the last two games, Smith potentially will benefit from a third day off as the Dodgers don’t start their road trip until Tuesday.
“We’ve got the off day tomorrow, which you would think that it makes it better. But then there is travel, so I guess for me, status for Tuesday is TBD,” Roberts said. “It’s kind of a day-to-day thing.”
Smith did have imaging taken of his neck, which Roberts said the results “checked out” and were “good.”
The 31-year-old is batting .249/.338/.382 with five doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI over 52 games so far this season. Smith has never gone more than three games in a row without a hit, but he’s also just 1-for-13 with one double, three walks and three strikeouts over four games in June.
His overall production this season is far below expectations and normal trends.
Typically, Smith has been one of the top hitting catchers during the first half of a season before fading a bit after the All-Star break. And though the Dodgers have made a concerted effort to manage his workload, Smith dealt with a lower back tightness in late April and only started one of three games against the Milwaukee Brewers just over two weeks ago.
Though, Roberts indicated that instance was more about giving Smith a break amid his scuffles, and not in relation to any sort of ailment.
What if Will Smith goes on the injured list?
The Dodgers don’t currently have a third catcher on their 40-man roster. That would require some roster movement in the event Smith’s neck trouble forces him to the injured list.
Eliezer Alfonzo has made the most starts at catcher for Triple-A Oklahoma City so far this season with 34. That’s followed by Chuckie Robinson having started 20 games Seby Zavala has 16. Robinson spent a brief stint up with the Dodgers last season when Smith and Dalton Rushing dealt with respective injuries.
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