LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers performed another MRI on the injured right hand of catcher Will Smith on Friday, and the scan revealed a small hairline fracture that will likely sideline the three-time All-Star for the remainder of the regular season and possibly the start of the playoffs.
“Optimistic that he’s going to come back at some point, doubtful it’s the regular season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said prior to hosting the San Francisco Giants on Saturday evening. “Having him available for the postseason, we’re still hopeful.”
Smith was among the leading hitters in the majors the first five months of the season, made his third straight National League All-Star team in July and kept his batting average above .300 until the final week of August. It had dipped to .296 at the time of his injury Sept. 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when a foul tip struck the back of his hand during a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Smith immediately left the game, but wasn’t initially placed on injured reserve. He returned Sept. 9 and played a full game against the Colorado Rockies, causing the injury to flare up. Smith was scratched from the lineup the following day with a bone bruise and placed on the 10-day injured list Sept. 13.
Smith didn’t show any improvement over the past week, prompting the second MRI.
“It’s good that Will and (the Dodgers) have clarity,” Roberts said.
Roberts said Ben Rortvedt is expected to get the “lion’s share” of playing time at catcher for the remainder of the regular season.
The Dodgers acquired Rortvedt from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31 and he was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 4.
After hitting .095 in 26 games for the Rays this season, the former second-round pick of the Minnesota Twins is hitting .294 in 13 games with the Dodgers.
TAG TEAM
There’s something about having Clayton Kershaw on the mound that brings out the best in Dodgers utility player Miguel Rojas.
Kershaw was on the mound when Rojas made his first major-league start June 8, 2014. Rojas collected his first major-league hit against the Rockies that night and drove in his first run while playing third base in the rain-shorted victory at Coors Field.
Ten days later, Rojas was back at third base against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium when Kershaw brought a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Troy Tulowitzki pulled a two-hopper down the line that Rojas backhanded near the outfield grass and his long throw across the diamond got Tulowitzki by two steps for the second out of the inning.
Kershaw went on to complete the only no-hitter of his career.
Rojas said it was one of the top three defensive plays he’s made in his 12-year MLB career.
On Friday night in the final regular-season start for Kershaw at Dodger Stadium before he retires after 18 seasons, Rojas blasted a solo home run in the second inning against the Giants, tying the score in as part of a 6-3 victory.
“A lot of things happened in my career when Clayton was on the mound,” Rojas said.
Rojas was also by Kershaw’s side when Roberts came out to remove him Friday night after the left-hander struck out Rafael Devers for the first out in the fifth inning.
Kershaw began his MLB career by striking out St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker in the same side of the batter’s box May 25, 2008.
“It was really hard to keep it together at that moment because you know something bigger than baseball is happening there,” Rojas said. “You kind of understand that that moment is not about you, it’s about one of the greatest to ever put the uniform on. … It’s pretty remarkable. I’m happy for him and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be the last time he’s taking the ball at Dodger Stadium.”
MORE MEMORIES
As a rookie with just 47 major-league games under his belt, Dalton Rushing had the privilege of catching Kershaw’s performance Friday night.
“It’s something that will be stuck in the back of my brain for as long as I play this game and years afterwards,” he said.
Rushing said a foul ball went off his wrist while Kershaw was still in the game and it quickly began to swell, but there was no chance he was coming out of the game.
“I will throw (the ball) like a grenade back to Kersh every time if I have to,” Rushing thought to himself.
Rushing did not collect any memorabilia from the game, but since his locker is right next to Kershaw’s, he figures there’s still plenty of time.
“I’ll ask him later in the year,” Rushing said.
UP NEXT
Giants (TBA) at Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 6-3, 3.17 ERA), 1:10 p.m. Sunday, SportsNet LA, 570 AM
