The Dodgers have shut down catcher Will Smith for at least a week of complete rest after his neck again flared during a recent attempt to ramp up baseball activity, manager Dave Roberts said Friday, per Dodgers Nation. Roberts called mid-August the earliest realistic return and would not rule out Smith missing the rest of the season, though the club still expects him back this year. Smith, hitting .249 with six home runs in 52 games, has not played since June 5.
For fantasy purposes, this cements Dalton Rushing as the Dodgers’ everyday catcher deep into August — Smith can be safely stashed on IL slots only in deeper two-catcher leagues.
