Will Smith has established himself as one of the best catchers in baseball over the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 31-year-old is a three-time All-Star and has continued to make an impact in October.
Smith has helped the Dodgers capture three World Series titles, coming up with huge swings in the postseason. This year, Smith has posted a .266 batting average, .337 on-base percentage, .729 OPS, three home runs and 14 RBIs across 24 appearances.
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Fortunately for the Dodgers, Smith is signed through the 2033 season on his 10-year, $140 million contract, and given the value he provides on a nightly basis, it is safe to say that has been one of the organization’s smartest investments.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16)© Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Smith had a strong game on Friday during the series opener against the Chicago Cubs, smashing a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. Unfortunately, Los Angeles would blow the lead, losing by a final score of 6-4.
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With Smith and the Dodgers looking to bounce back on Saturday, Smith was held out of the lineup. For the third time in five days, Los Angeles had his backup, Dalton Rushing, step in behind the plate.
While it is common for Rushing to replace Smith to give him days off, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed when speaking with reporters during pregame that this was not the case this time around.
Roberts announced that Smith is dealing with back tightness, which led to his removal from the starting lineup. Fortunately, Roberts added that the team is not concerned long-term and he is expected to be available for the series finale on Sunday (h/t Jack Harris of the California Post).
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The good news is this is not a significant setback for Smith. Last year, Smith dealt with a fractured right hand in September that forced him to miss the start of the Dodgers run in the MLB playoffs.
The Dodgers are not losing anything in the short-term either, as Smith’s counterpart Rushing is off to a strong start in 2026 and has been more than serviceable when needed. Regardless, Smith remains the primary option.
With his importance to both the pitching staff and the lineup, the Dodgers will be hoping this latest issue stays minor and does not linger into the heart of their season.
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Related: Dodgers’ Blake Snell Makes Off-Field Announcement Before Cubs Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
