Will Smith ‘Very Close’ To Starting In NLDS Game

The Los Angeles Dodgers began their National League Division Series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies without Will Smith in the lineup for a third consecutive playoff game.

Smith also did not appear in the Wild Card Series and his absence extended back to Sept. 10, when the Dodgers placed on him on the 10-day injured list. The official designation at the time was a right hand contusion, but it was later determined Smith suffered a hairline fracture.

The hand injury caused some uncertainty regarding his availability heading into the postseason, but Smith successfully took swings as part of a workout before the Wild Card round began and was among three catchers on the Dodgers roster.

That remained the case for the NLDS roster as Smith continues to make progress in his recovery.

“It’s feeling good. It’s really close to 100%,” Smith said of his right hand while speaking before Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park. “Looking forward to being out there playing and helping the team win.”

Although Smith has kept active throughout the rehab process, one option not available is catching in a Minor League game.

“We’re trying to be smart about it. It’s a long month, but also there’s some urgency to win now, obviously. So just trying to kind of weigh both of those and go from there,” Smith said.

He’s nevertheless caught multiple bullpen sessions, including most recently Blake Snell’s on Saturday. And despite not being behind the plate for a full game, Smith believed he already is capable of catching nine innings.

Dodgers find opportunity for Will Smith

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated it was possible for Smith to enter off the bench and remain at catcher in Game 1, and that materialized with a pinch-hit opportunity in the fifth inning. Smith then remained in the game at catcher.

That was a notable step forward and the two-time All-Star could be on the verge of being in the Dodgers lineup.

“We just haven’t had the chance to do the buildup as far as the rehab, the catching five innings, the six innings, the seven, let alone the nine innings,” Roberts noted. “And he hasn’t caught in four weeks. I’m trying to find a jumping off point that would kind of play the middle, the slice.

“But, yeah, he’s close, and I just don’t know when. But he’s very close, yes.”

Roberts said after Game 1 that it was possible Smith would be back in the lineup on Monday but that the team needed to first see how he came away from playing for the first time since Sept. 9.