Overview
- Manager Dave Roberts scratched Will Smith after the catcher woke with a stiff neck on Saturday and said the team expects him to return to the starting lineup for Sunday.
- Roberts and trainer Thomas Albert described the neck issue as sudden and short term and suggested it could stem from a bad night's sleep or pillow.
- The Saturday scratch aligned with a preexisting plan to give Smith a day off as part of the Dodgers' catcher workload management strategy.
- Dalton Rushing was inserted on short notice to catch Yoshinobu Yamamoto and received praise from coaches for improved preparation and comfort with the staff.
- Smith is a three-time All-Star who missed time in late April with a lower-back issue and is hitting below his usual standards this season, so the team is closely monitoring his plate metrics and durability to protect long-term availability.