Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith will retreat to the bench on Friday against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium. Austin Barnes will do the catching for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and will bat ninth against Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty. Smith will get the day off on his 30th birthday. The veteran backstop has gotten off to a solid start to his 2025 campaign by going 3-for-7 with a double, RBI, a league-leading five walks and two runs scored in three games played. While he's not an elite fantasy catcher, Smith is as steady as they come and is in the best lineup in baseball. Expect him to return to action on Saturday against the Tigers. Barnes has very little offensive upside and should be avoided in DFS. He hasn't recorded a hit in just three career at-bats against Flaherty.
Will Smith Back In Cactus League Lineup On Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (knee) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Thursday against the Texas Rangers, doing the catching and batting sixth. Smith was hit by a pitch on his left knee in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds and was removed as a precaution and he was just dealing with a minor contusion. The 29-year-old was also held back at the start of spring training due to an ankle injury that he suffered late last season. That injury was nothing to worry about either, and it was a way for the Dodgers to rest their starting catcher early in camp. Unless something else pops up with Smith, he'll be fine for the season-opening two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19. Smith isn't an elite fantasy catching option, but he's ranked at No. 7 at the position at RotoBaller and resides in the best lineup in baseball.
Will Smith Leaves Early After Getting Hit By Pitch
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (knee) was replaced in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds after getting hit by a pitch on his left knee, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. It's unclear how severe Smith's left-knee injury is, but it's not the first injury he's dealt with in spring training after being delayed early in camp with ankle soreness. For now, we'll consider the 29-year-old backstop day-to-day until we get further word on his ailment. Most likely, the Dodgers pulled him out of an abundance of caution. An All-Star the last two seasons, Smith slashed .248/.327/.433 last year with 20 home runs, 75 RBI and 77 runs scored in 128 games. It was the third time in the last four years that Smith has reached the 20-homer mark to finish as a top-five fantasy catcher. While he's not an elite fantasy option at the position, he's been extremely reliable and has a safe floor in the best lineup in baseball. UPDATE: Manager Dave Roberts said Smith's exit was purely precautionary.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (ankle) has been dealing with a bone bruise on his left ankle since last June. Smith said this injury occurred when he rolled his ankle. Smith noted that the team is exploring ways to manage it throughout the year. He made his Cactus League debut on Friday and said that the injury did not affect his swing, but he felt "more" pain while running. Fantasy managers should monitor his status throughout camp in case he faces a setback. However, seeing him begin to participate in spring training games suggests the injury should not keep him sidelined too often in the regular season. However, he may be given more rest days. Last season, the 29-year-old posted a .248/.327/.433 slash line with 24 doubles and 20 home runs. He should be expected to be the everyday backstop and bat in the heart of a potent Dodger lineup.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (ankle) is set to make his Cactus League debut for the Dodgers on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, according to the Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris. A minor ankle injury kept Smith sidelined early in the spring training slate, but he's ready to go now and will be ready to roll for Opening Day on March 18 against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, barring a setback once he gets into games. The 29-year-old backstop will also serve as the catcher in his first spring game on Friday. The former 32nd overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Louisville, Smith has been an All-Star each of the last two years and slashed .248/.327/.433 with a career-low .760 OPS, 20 home runs, 75 RBI and 77 runs scored in 128 regular-season games in 2024. While Smith's numbers definitely dipped, especially in the second half, he's been extremely consistent and is on the best team in baseball.
Will Smith Could Play In Cactus League Game Later This Week
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Monday that catcher Will Smith (ankle) could make his Cactus League debut by Thursday or Friday of this week. Smith is dealing with a minor ankle injury early in spring training, but it hasn't kept him from catching bullpens or taking batting practice. If the 29-year-old backstop can get through some running drills this week, he should be cleared to play in a game on Thursday or Friday. Although the Dodgers open the 2025 season in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18 against the Chicago Cubs, Smith should be ready in time, barring a setback when he starts playing in games. Smith's minor ankle injury in camp shouldn't be a reason for fantasy managers to fade him as a top-10 catcher in upcoming drafts. The former first-rounder has been an All-Star each of the last two years and hit 20 homers and drove in over 70 runs in 2024 for the third time in the last four seasons.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Friday that catcher Will Smith (ankle) could start playing in Cactus League games next week. Smith is dealing with an ankle injury that only affects him while running. It's nothing too serious, but the Dodgers are playing it safe with their 29-year-old starting catcher early in spring training, which is no surprise. Smith's final hurdle before being cleared to make his Cactus League debut next week will be completing a running program. Barring a setback, he should be ready to go on March 18 in Tokyo, Japan, to face the Chicago Cubs. Smith isn't an elite fantasy backstop, but he's still not a bad target in fantasy drafts once the big names like William Contreras and Adley Rutschman come off the board. He was a top-five fantasy catcher in 2024 and has been an All-Star the last two seasons.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (ankle) probably won't make his Cactus League debut until next week. Smith is dealing with a minor ankle injury, but the Dodgers aren't going to push him early on in spring training. The 29-year-old has been able to catch bullpen sessions and take batting practice, but he's been held out of running drills at camp. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks once he resumes running and playing in games, Smith should be ready to go for Opening Day in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18 versus the Chicago Cubs. Smith was much better in the second half in 2024 for L.A. than in the second half, but he still finished with 20 home runs and 75 RBI in 128 regular-season games, good enough to be a top-five fantasy catcher. He is as consistent as they come in the best lineup in baseball, making him RotoBaller's No. 6 fantasy backstop.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (ankle) is "a little behind" in camp while dealing with an ankle issue, according to manager Dave Roberts. The skipper added that Smith has been running on an Alter-G treadmill. Although Smith's injury doesn't sound too serious, the 29-year-old backstop will need to be ready earlier than other players this year with the Dodgers opening up their regular season on March 18-19 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs. There's still plenty of time for Smith to get ready for those games, though, so his minor ankle injury shouldn't affect his fantasy draft status for now as a top-10 catcher at RotoBaller. In a stacked Dodgers lineup that won the World Series last fall, Smith finished the 2024 regular season as a top-five catcher in fantasy and should have a very safe floor yet again once the top names come off the board in drafts.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith busted out of his postseason slump in a big way on Sunday, hitting a two-run homer to break open Game 6 of the NLCS. Smith got a hold of a Phil Maton fastball and sent it over the center field wall in the third inning to put the Dodgers up 6-1. The veteran backstop has had a tough go in these playoffs, going 5-for-35 (.143 AVG) with one homer and four RBI coming into this one. That will all be forgotten now, though, as Smith made his mark on the series-clinching game and will look to ride this momentum in a blockbuster World Series matchup against the New York Yankees.
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