Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about All-Star catcher Will Smith’s status for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Smith has been nursing a hairline fracture in his hand since Sept. 3, when a foul ball hit him against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was out of the lineup for six days, returning to the lineup Sept. 9, but landed on the injured list after reaggravating the injury during that game.
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Smith came into Game 1 against the Phillies during the fifth inning, pinch hitting for catcher Ben Rortvedt, who has been his replacement for a majority of the time he’s missed. Smith went 0-for-2 with a hit by pitch in Saturday’s contest.
“Still up in the air,” Roberts said of Smith’s status. “We might run the same playbook, or we could start him. But I think for me, just kind of seeing how he comes in tomorrow.”
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Ahead of Game 1, Smith stated he was close to full strength, and could “go nine innings right now and be good.”
As good as Rortvedt has been since coming in for Smith, the addition of an All-Star and one of the Dodgers’ best regular season performers would be a huge boost for LA.
Smith batted .296 during the regular season, and hit 17 homers with 61 RBIs during the 110 games he played.
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The Dodgers took a huge Game 1 win on the road against the Phils on Saturday, sparking a late-inning comeback to battle back from a 3-0 deficit. They get a rest day on Sunday before their second road game of the series, in which Wild Card series Game 1 starter Blake Snell will make his second start of the postseason.
Game 2 of the NLDS begins Monday at 3:08 p.m. PT.
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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