The Dodgers are facing a tricky late-season stretch as a vital star of the team, Will Smith, is sidelined with a hand injury. Smith has been limited since Sept. 2 after being hit by a foul ball and was currently diagnosed with a hairline fracture. This news puts the team in an intricate situation as the Dodgers head toward the postseason, leaving Dave Roberts uncertain about Will Smith’s availability for vital games. Andrew Friedman said that the team is hopeful for a quick recovery; however, the timeline remains unclear.

For more than two weeks, the team tried to manage Will Smith’s injury while keeping the star on the active roster. Despite such approaches, discomfort persisted, which prompted a placement on the 10-day injured list on Sept 11. Dave Roberts highlighted that whether the star will be ready for the postseason is still “up in the air,” with the Dodgers keeping the team’s approach cautious. The Dodgers are closely monitoring Smith’s progress through additional MRIs and treatments.

Amid such uncertainty, 24-year-old rookie catcher Dalton Rushing is back in the lineup. Brad Jay at Dodgers Digest highlighted, “That’s going to give the opportunities to Ben and Dalton to step up and play some. I think Dave Roberts is going to be sharing the time with them, splitting in between it. We saw Dalton get the start the day before yesterday, then we saw Ben get the start yesterday.” Brad J added, “Those guys need to get at-bats because they got to carry it through the rest of the season and Will is just going to have to rest.”

Fans could wonder if this switch-off approach will affect the team’s rhythm. Brad Jay reassured, “Hopefully the Dodgers, it doesn’t come back to bite them. I don’t think it will because Ben Rorvedt has been playing some damn good ball. We’d like to see him continue to get some at-bats, but you can’t write off Dalton. Dalton’s going to need some at-bats again.” The seven remaining games of the regular season, today against the Giants, three against the Diamondbacks, and three against the Mariners, will be vital for these catchers to gain experience and maintain team momentum.

Looking ahead, Will Smith will face almost three weeks of rehab before returning for powerful postseason action. Brad Jay summed up the team’s positioning realistically: “If the Dodgers, some miracle, are able to take the Phillies out of the number two spot… I think the Dodgers are going to be in the number three spot.” However, Rushing and Rorvedt have a scope to prove themselves as elite options, shouldering the force in Will Smith’s absence and helping the team to remain competitive as the Dodgers prepare for a powerful playoff run.

Beyond the quick challenge of replacing Smith, Dalton Rushing is also mesmerized after getting in a moment that transcended the box score, stepping into history alongside a Dodgers legend.

Dalton Rushing highlights Clayton Kershaw’s emotional farewell at Dodger stadium

Newcomer catcher Dalton Rushing called working with Clayton Kershaw in his final home start at Dodger Stadium “probably the best moment of my career so far.” Knowing it was Kershaw’s last regular-season appearance in Los Angeles, Rushing said the team prepared carefully so the veteran could enjoy every single moment. From the first inning, when team members cleared the field to limelight Kershaw, to the emotional final hug on the mound, Rushing highlighted how special it felt to witness and share that stage.

While the atmosphere carried deep emotion, Clayton Kershaw approached it with his trademark focus: “This is why Kershaw is a great player. He considers every batter equally threatening and tries to throw every ball as planned.” For Rushing, the night was not just about the game; it was about honoring a legend. “We could all be part of baseball history,” he reflected. “Victory is important, but I thought we were playing for something like this after all.”

For the Dodgers, this stretch is about poising heartbreak and hope. Will Smith’s injury leaves a huge gap, but it also accelerates Dalton Rushing’s rise into the spotlight, both as a postseason contributor and as Kershaw’s ultimate battery mate at Dodger Stadium. These storylines remind fans that baseball is bigger than wins and losses: it is about legacies and the next generation. As the postseason looms, all eyes will be on whether the rookie can steady the lineup or not. Stay tuned for more updates as October draws near.