The Los Angeles Dodgers still control the National League West, but Will Smith’s injury absence creates a test that reaches beyond one missing bat. Smith is one of the club’s most important stabilizers, a catcher trusted to manage a star-heavy pitching staff and bring order to tense innings.
The Dodgers can withstand a short-term absence. The club’s 43-25 record and 7.5-game division lead give them some margin for error. Still, Wednesday night’s 9-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates reminded them that even elite rosters can wobble when execution slips late.
Smith’s injured-list stint is expected to be precautionary, which keeps the situation from becoming a crisis. Los Angeles does not need to panic. However, several key figures must absorb larger responsibilities while their starting catcher recovers. For a team chasing a third consecutive World Series title, this stretch is about maintaining standards.
No. 3: Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts belongs on this list because Smith’s absence changes how the Dodgers must manage games.
Roberts has described the move as precautionary, and that approach makes sense. Los Angeles has too much long-term ambition to rush one of its most important players back for June games. Protecting Smith now could matter far more in October.
Still, that cautious approach puts pressure on Roberts to handle the roster carefully. The Dodgers are coming off a frustrating loss in which a five-run lead disappeared over the final three innings. That kind of defeat can linger if a team allows it to.
His greatest challenge is behind the dish. Dalton Rushing now steps into a larger role, while veteran backup Chuckie Robinson provides depth. Robinson’s role should remain limited, especially given his .131 career major league batting average. That means Roberts must rely heavily on Rushing without overextending him.
Managing that balance will require feeling. Roberts must weigh matchups, pitcher comfort, rest, and game state while keeping the Dodgers from losing rhythm. Los Angeles does not need dramatic changes. It needs clean decisions, steady bullpen handling, and smart workload management until Smith returns.
No. 2: The Dodgers bullpen
Smith’s absence also places more pressure on the Dodgers bullpen, especially after Wednesday night’s collapse.
Los Angeles appeared to have control after Ryan Ward’s sixth-inning grand slam gave the Dodgers a commanding lead. Shohei Ohtani delivered 6.2 strong innings, and L.A. looked positioned for another win. Instead, the relief corps lost the game.
Alex Vesia entered in the seventh and saw an infield throwing error help Pittsburgh cut into the deficit. In the eighth, Kyle Hurt struggled with his command and issued consecutive walks before Tyler Callihan launched a go-ahead three-run homer. Jack Dreyer then surrendered a two-run shot to Spencer Horwitz, completing the collapse.
That kind of inning is harder to absorb without Smith behind the plate.
Veteran catchers matter most when pitchers rush, miss spots, or lose confidence. Smith helps guide pitch selection, calm the tempo, and keep trouble from spiraling. Rushing has talent, but expecting a player with just over a year of MLB experience to immediately duplicate that presence would be unrealistic.
That means the bullpen has to take greater ownership. Hurt must attack the strike zone. Vesia must be sharper in leverage spots. Dreyer and the rest of the relief group must limit free baserunners and avoid turning small cracks into game-changing rallies.
Smith’s absence does not excuse poor relief work. It simply removes one layer of stability. If the Dodgers want this stretch to pass smoothly, the bullpen has to respond quickly.
No. 1: Dalton Rushing
No one faces a bigger immediate test than Rushing.
The 25-year-old backstop now moves into one of the most demanding roles on the roster. Replacing an All-Star-caliber presence behind the plate is difficult under any circumstances. Doing it for a team chasing another championship adds a different level of scrutiny.
Rushing has already shown why the organization trusts him. Through his first 37 games, he is hitting .275 with eight home runs, 21 RBIs, and an .884 OPS. Those numbers show real offensive impact, not just promise.
Now the job gets more complicated.
Playing more often means more scouting attention, more physical wear, and more responsibility with the pitching staff. Opponents will adjust. Pitchers will lean on him during difficult sequences. Roberts will need him to handle game plans, receive high-pressure innings, and continue contributing offensively.
His versatility is what makes this upcoming stretch of games so significant. Rushing’s bat matters, but his work behind the plate matters even more. Smith’s value has never been limited offensively. He manages personalities, guides pitchers through traffic, and provides the calm presence championship teams need.
Rushing does not have to become Smith overnight. The Dodgers do not need perfection. Their division lead gives him the room to grow into the moment. What they need is competence, confidence, and steady improvement from the young catcher who suddenly has a much larger role.
There is cause for optimism. Rushing has the offensive ability to lengthen the lineup and the defensive tools to handle the assignment. The organization prepared him for opportunities like this one. Now he gets the chance to show that preparation can translate under pressure.
The Dodgers remain one of baseball’s deepest teams and the back-to-back World Series champions, so Smith’s injury absence should not derail their season if it stays brief. Still, moments like these reveal how sturdy a contender really is. Roberts must manage with precision, the bullpen must rebound, and Rushing must prove he can handle a bigger stage.
If all three respond, Los Angeles will not merely survive Smith’s absence. The Dodgers will come out of it with a deeper understanding of their depth and the players they can trust when October arrives.
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