Dodgers Expected To Put Catcher Will Smith On The Injured List As Neck Issue Lingers

PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers are apt to put catcher Will Smith connected nan injured database Thursday, arsenic nan stiffness successful his cervix continues to linger, head Dave Roberts said.

“There’s been immoderate improvement,” Roberts said. “We’ll person to make that determination astatine immoderate constituent successful clip [Wednesday] aft nan game.”

The Dodgers’ crippled against nan Pirates connected Wednesday was nan 4th Smith had missed since being scratched from nan lineup Saturday pinch a stiff neck. Teams tin backdate IL moves a maximum of 3 days.

Dalton Rushing is scheduled to drawback each 3 games successful Pittsburgh, according to Roberts, but nan Dodgers will apt adhd a backup to nan roster connected Thursday. In nan meantime, Smith could drawback successful an emergency situation.

The Dodgers person already cleared a spot connected nan 40-man roster, releasing inferior man Tyler Fitzgerald connected Wednesday. He had a .998 OPS successful 24 games pinch Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Unless nan Dodgers bring successful further catching extent from nan outside, their options successful Triple-A are Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson. Roberts downplayed nan situation of integrating a catcher midseason.

“We had Chuckie past year, and we had Eliezer each spring,” Roberts said. “So some those guys are confident. They’re benignant of a small older, truthful they’ve been around, and we’re very acquainted pinch some those guys, truthful it should beryllium beautiful seamless.”