Dave Roberts Makes Will Smith Admission After Dodgers Loss

Roberts explained why the decision is not straightforward, pointing to Smith’s established track record despite his current slump.

“There’s always lineup construction I can think through. He’s not swinging the bat well. We’ll see. It’s hard, because the body of work, and he just has that knack to get a big hit. You also have to kind of think about who you want in that place,” Roberts said, according to Dodger Blue’s post on X.

Smith has struggled throughout the 2026 postseason. He went hitless in three at-bats against Milwaukee in Game 1, with a walk, and entered the NLCS hitting .063 across 16 at-bats. He also recorded just one hit in 16 at-bats during the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.

The 31-year-old catcher remains an important part of the Dodgers’ lineup and pitching staff. He finished the regular season batting .260 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 73 games. His postseason struggles have created a difficult decision for Roberts, who must weigh Smith’s recent production against his overall value to the team.

Los Angeles also faces pressure to generate more offense after managing seven hits and one run in the series opener. The Dodgers had opportunities to score but could not deliver enough timely hits to overcome Milwaukee’s pitching.

The Dodgers will look to even the series in Game 2 on Monday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to start against Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson. Whether Roberts changes Smith’s position in the batting order remains uncertain, but the manager has acknowledged that the possibility is under consideration.