How The Dodgers Plan To Shuffle Catchers With Will Smith On The Injured List

PITTSBURGH — Dodgers catcher Will Smith described nan lead up to landing connected nan 10-day injured database Thursday as, “a agelong fewer days.”

He was diagnosed pinch an inflamed disk, he said, nan guidelines of nan symptom connected nan correct broadside of his neck. But erstwhile Smith initially woke up pinch a stiff cervix last week successful Arizona, he expected it to resoluteness successful a time aliases two.

He played done it for a mates games successful Arizona and nan first crippled against nan Angels connected Friday, earlier he was scratched from nan lineup nan next day.

“That 3rd aliases 4th day, I felt it was conscionable getting a batch worse,” Smith said.

With rest, he has improved. But Smith still feels tightness done his correct trapezius, erstwhile he turns his head. While successful Pittsburgh this week, he’s gone done a slate of shot activities — hitting, throwing, running.

“It’s beautiful close,” Smith said. “So, hopefully, nan time I’m capable to travel off, I tin travel backmost and play, that’s nan scheme for now.”

The Dodgers backdated nan IL move to Monday, truthful Smith will beryllium eligible to return June 19, erstwhile nan Dodgers unfastened a three-game location bid against nan Orioles. In a corresponding move, nan squad selected nan statement of catcher Chuckie Robinson from triple-A Oklahoma City.

“It was conscionable not wanting it to spell successful reverse,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s surely astir apt playable if we needed [it]. But astatine what cost? Right now, I conscionable don’t deliberation it’s smart to tally Will retired location conscionable because he’s Will Smith and he’ll do it. We’ve sewage to return attraction of his wellness for this year. So I don’t deliberation it’s a superior thing, but I do deliberation that america taking attraction of it correct now connected nan beforehand extremity will salary benefits.”

Roberts plans to commencement Robinson down nan sheet Friday, catching right-hander Roki Sasaki and giving Dalton Rushing a break aft serving arsenic nan backstop for 5 consecutive games. Rushing is scheduled to drawback Saturday, Sunday and Monday, earlier Robinson chips successful again Tuesday.

Robinson has immoderate familiarity pinch nan Dodgers’ pitching unit aft spending overmuch of past play successful nan organization, including 1 major-league appearance, and joining major-league campy this outpouring arsenic a non-roster invitee.

“The only personification I really consciousness convicted connected is having Rushing pinch Shohei [Ohtani],” Roberts said. “Just because he’s been astir Shohei more. Shohei’s pitching is benignant of much nuanced. Everyone else, I consciousness beautiful comfortable pinch Chuckie.”