With Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith dealing with a neck injury, fans are wondering what his status looks like after each game, with the next coming on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. As Smith and the Dodgers are coming off the series against the Los Angeles Angels, the team has made a decision for Tuesday’s series opener in Pittsburgh that involves the catcher.
According to Jack Harris, Smith “remains out” of Los Angeles’ lineup for Tuesday’s contest against the Pirates, with more questions arising from fans on how serious the neck injury could be.
Hello from Pittsburgh, where Will Smith remains out of the Dodgers lineup pic.twitter.com/sLYC0K6yXs
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) June 9, 2026
Smith was scratched from last Saturday’s game against the Angels, as the neck injury “came out of nowhere,” according to manager Dave Roberts.
“I had him in there today and then talked to [trainer] Thomas Albert, and he said that Will’s kind of grinding through a neck situation. … I think a bad night’s sleep or a bad pillow. Not sure,” Roberts said, via MLB.com.
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts says Will Smith’s neck injury is not serious
So far this season with the Dodgers, Smith is hitting a .249 batting average to go along with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games. While Smith has missed some time with the neck issue, it’s not said to be serious, as Roberts said on Sunday.
“It’s not serious, but it’s something that is preventing him from playing,” Roberts said, via Dodger Blue. “As I sat here [Saturday] and felt confident he was going to be in there today, it got a little bit better, but not enough to play.”
“We’ve got the off day tomorrow, which you would think that it makes it better. But then there is travel, so I guess for me, status for Tuesday is TBD,” Roberts continued. “It’s kind of a day-to-day thing.”
It remains to be seen when Smith comes back for the team, as Dalton Rushing will take up the catching duties for Los Angeles in the meantime. The Dodgers look to keep up the winning ways despite the injury, as ahead of Tuesday night’s game, the team is 42-24, first in the NL West.
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