Will Smith heads to injured list as Dodgers shuffle roster behind Dalton Rushing

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without catcher Will Smith for at least the next 10 days after the club announced his placement on the injured list, a move manager Dave Roberts discussed with reporters. The transaction also triggered a roster adjustment ahead of the team’s next stretch, as the Dodgers needed to create a 40-man spot to activate a replacement catcher.

Smith’s IL placement follows a period of discomfort, with MLB Trade Rumors reporting that the catcher had been dealing with a stiff neck. Under MLB rules, a 10-day injured list stint means he will miss a minimum of that window, giving the Dodgers a defined horizon to monitor his recovery before considering his return.

To cover the playing time needs that come with losing a key catcher, Los Angeles plans to select Chuckie Robinson to the active roster. MLB Trade Rumors characterized Robinson’s role as backup support to Dalton Rushing, positioning him as the immediate option for late-inning catching duties, spot starts, and bullpen logistics while Smith is out.

The Dodgers also made a separate roster move to open the necessary space, releasing Tyler Fitzgerald, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ account of the transaction activity. In practical terms, the Fitzgerald move is a roster housekeeping step that keeps the active roster compliant while the club carries Robinson during Smith’s absence.

For the Dodgers, the timing matters because catcher depth is rarely just about one game. The position is central to daily game planning, from handling pitchers’ routines to managing pitch selection and managing the clubhouse workload. When a team loses a starter, it also forces adjustments to how often other catchers can be used, particularly if the starter’s workload shifts from routine days to back-to-back games.

Robinson’s promotion is therefore best understood as an operational reset for Los Angeles’ daily cadence. Even if a backup catcher does not play every day, the team’s managers and pitchers rely on consistent preparation, and the Dodgers will have to work to keep their catching staff in rhythm as Smith goes through the minimum IL period.

Looking ahead, the next checkpoints are straightforward: whether Smith’s symptoms improve in a way that allows him to stay on schedule for a return around the 10-day mark, and whether Robinson settles into a stable backup role without forcing additional roster churn. In the meantime, the Dodgers’ focus will be on maintaining bullpen control and day-to-day defensive continuity behind home plate while the active roster adapts to Smith’s absence.