Will Smith started both games of last week’s series against the San Francisco Giants, but now has been out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup each of the past two days.
Smith predictably only caught one of the doubleheader games at Wrigley Field, starting in the nightcap so Austin Barnes could catch Clayton Kershaw. Smith was behind the plate for the series finale, only to now miss the first two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Through the past weekend there weren’t any signs of injury for Smith, who recently had been elevated to batting cleanup.
According to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained Smith’s absence from the lineup for consecutive games is due to right pectoral trouble:
Will Smith has been dealing with a right peck issue and that’s why Barnes gets back to back starts. Will Smith will start tomorrow’s day game per Dave Roberts. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 10, 2022
Entering play Tuesday, Smith has appeared in 20 (18 starts) of the Dodgers’ 27 games this season. He’s batting .231/.342/.369 with three doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI and a 114 wrc+.
“What I love is he still will take a walk. When we need to move the ball forward, he can do that,” Roberts recently said of Smith.
“He has the ability to check down and hit a ball the other way. When you’re not swinging the bat really well individually or collectively, you have to be able to use the other side of the field. Will is as good at as anyone on our club.”
Along with Max Muncy and Justin Turner, Smith has received starts at designated hitter.
Smith among Dodgers injuries
Up until recently, the bulk of Dodgers injuries have lied within the pitching staff. Blake Treinen is expected to be out until some time after the All-Star break, Victor González is undergoing left elbow surgery, and David Price and Mitch White are yet to return from the COVID-19 injured list.
In addition to Smith, the Dodgers are somewhat limited on the position-player side with Chris Taylor suffering a bone bruise on his left knee after fouling a pitch off Monday night. Taylor already was earmarked to be out of the lineup for the middle game of the Pirates series, but did report improvement. X-rays of Taylor’s left knee were negative for a fracture.
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
