The Los Angeles Dodgers initially expected Will Smith to miss just one game upon getting scratched from the lineup on June 6 because of neck stiffness, but he now is two weeks into an absence.
There also was initial optimism Smith would avoid going on the 10-day injured list, which changed June 11. Smith’s IL stint was backdated to June 8, thus making Friday the first day he was eligible to return. It was suggested the 31-year-old would return once he could be activated.
But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ruled out that possibility earlier in the week and now Smith is going to be administered a cortisone injection because of the lingering discomfort.
“It’s going to take more time. Had a scan recently, and the results were sort of fine. Nothing really bad, but I think he’s going to get some type of shot to kind of minimize the sensation,” Roberts said.
“He feels OK, not great. I think for us, we’re just trying to make sure we don’t have a setback when he comes back. So I think that’s kind of the pause. So he won’t be active this weekend, and then the question is if he’s going to travel. I think right we’ve just got to figure out where he’s at as we get through the weekend.”
What a cortisone shot means for Will Smith
Roberts did not specify when Smith would receive the injection, but noted he would need to take a day off from baseball activities in order to “let it settle.”
Smith went through a full workout in the middle of the week but still felt some trouble with his neck. Roberts said he wasn’t yet certain of the injury involves a disc. Smith’s official designation for the injured list was neck inflammation.
When previously discussing imaging that was taken, Roberts said the results “checked out” and were “good.”
Smith is batting .249/.338/.382 with five doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI over 52 games so far this season. The first half included inconsistent stretches, but Smith has never gone more than three games in a row without a hit. However, he was also just 1-for-13 with one double, three walks and three strikeouts over four games in June.
In his first comments about the neck injury, Smith revealed he began playing through discomfort while the Dodgers were facing the Arizona Diamondbacks at the beginning of the month.
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