You can only play shorthanded for so long before a bench crunch cripples your roster flexibility. The Los Angeles Dodgers are rapidly approaching that breaking point with star catcher Will Smith. What initially looked like a standard case of day-to-day neck stiffness has turned into a four-game absence. Now, manager Dave Roberts admits a stint on the injured list is becoming a distinct reality.
Honestly, the team has run out of time to wait this out passively.
The trouble began when the Dodgers scratched their three-time All-Star backstop from Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Roberts initially downplayed the issue. He assured everyone that the diagnostic imaging came back completely clean and checked out fine. But fast forward through a team off-day and a trip to Pittsburgh, and Smith is still stuck on the bench. He managed to play catch and do some light hitting in the indoor cages at PNC Park, but his neck simply does not feel right when he rotates through his swing.
The Cost of Carrying Empty Bench Spots
When a team plays with a short bench, it impacts every single in-game strategic decision. Because the Dodgers have kept Smith active on the 26-man roster hoping for a quick recovery, they have effectively operated with a man down.
Major League Baseball allows teams to backdate an injured list stint by a maximum of three days. For the Dodgers to maximize that rule and minimize the total days Smith would have to miss, they needed to make the roster move official by Tuesday, June 9. Since he last played on Friday, June 5, that window has officially closed. Every game the front office waits to make a decision is a wasted day of recovery time that cannot be recouped.
If you are a manager, you can handle a short bench for a game or two. But when you are facing elite pitching like Pittsburgh's Jared Jones, you need every possible tactical advantage. You need pinch-hitters. You need late-game defensive replacements. Right now, Roberts is managing with one hand tied behind his back.
Dalton Rushing Is Ready, but the Depth Behind Him Is Sparse
The saving grace for Los Angeles is the presence of Dalton Rushing. The young backstop has handled the bulk of the catching duties during Smith's sudden absence, and he hasn't looked completely overwhelmed. Rushing actually brings plenty of pop to the bottom of the order, boasting eight home runs and 21 RBI on the year.
But relying on a rookie catcher to handle a star-studded pitching staff over a prolonged stretch is a massive gamble. The real problem isn't Rushing starting; it's who backs him up if something goes sideways.
Currently, the Dodgers don't have a third catcher sitting on their 40-man roster. Pulling the trigger on an injured list placement for Smith requires a corresponding roster shuffle. Word out of the clubhouse indicates the front office is actively debating whether to promote Eliezer Alfonzo or Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Alfonzo has been the workhorse in the minors this season with 34 starts behind the plate, while Robinson offers a bit of big-league familiarity after a brief cup of coffee with the Dodgers last season.
A Slumping All-Star Needs the Reset
Before his neck locked up, Smith was already mired in a noticeable offensive funk. He's struggling through his eighth big-league season with a subpar .249/.338/.382 slash line and a career-low .720 OPS. He has managed just two hits in his last 15 at-bats.
Historically, Smith has worn down as the grueling summer months approach. The Dodgers tried to manage his workload early on, especially after a bout of lower back tightness sidelined him in late April. This neck issue seems unrelated to that previous back stiffness, but the cumulative physical toll on a 31-year-old veteran catcher is undeniable.
Stiffness that disrupts a player's swing path isn't something you can simply grit your teeth and play through. If a hitter alters their mechanics to protect a sore neck, they often create bad habits or, worse, trigger a secondary injury somewhere else in the kinetic chain.
Stop Overthinking the Roster Spot and Make the Move
The front office needs to stop overthinking this and place Smith on the 10-day injured list immediately.
Hoping for a miraculous day-to-day recovery has already cost the team valuable roster flexibility during the opening games of this road trip. The Dodgers have a history of watching minor ailments morph into long-term sagas. Look at Tyler Glasnow, who went on the shelf with minor back spasms only to end up transferred to the 60-day injured list.
The smart, analytical play is to stop bleeding active roster spots. Protect your franchise catcher, give his neck a full week of genuine rest without the pressure of rushing back for the next game, and call up a backup from Oklahoma City to stabilize the bench. The Dodgers have enough star power to survive a brief Smith absence in June, but they won't survive a compromised version of their All-Star catcher in October.
