Overview
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club shut Will Smith down from baseball activities after limited recovery from neck inflammation, a development disclosed on Friday that follows his placement on the injured list on June 11.
- Smith has not played since June 5 and entered the IL with a neck issue that now shows little improvement even though he reports little or no pain, so the team plans a brief period of complete rest before a slow ramp back to baseball work.
- The club’s working expectation is a return sometime in August if there are no further setbacks, but the timetable remains uncertain and the Dodgers are preparing for the possibility he misses more time.
- Rookie Dalton Rushing has handled primary catching duties with moderate offense and mixed defense, and the Dodgers are weighing low‑cost options such as waiver claims or minor‑league trades for an extra catcher rather than pursuing a headline move.
- Smith’s absence matters for October planning because he has been a key postseason performer and a .720 OPS hitter this year, so the team must balance protecting his health with ensuring defensive stability behind the plate and monitoring roster moves ahead of the trade deadline.