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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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While Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith was on the team's roster for the Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds, he did not make an appearance.
Smith, who suffered a hand fracture in early September, has played just once since Sept. 3, and ended the regular season on the injured list.
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At first, Smith seemed like a long shot to be ready for the postseason, but he was able to get onto the team's active roster. Fortunately, the team didn't need to use him, as they comfortably won both games and Ben Rortvedt continued to impress behind the plate.
On Friday, just about 24 hours before NLDS Game 1, manager Dave Roberts provided an update on Smith and his status for the upcoming series against the Phillies.
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"He's getting better each day." Roberts said. "He's going to participate in live batting practice here shortly, so we'll gather more information. If it goes well, we'll carry three catchers."
The Dodgers carried three catchers — Rortvedt, Smith and Dalton Rushing — in the Wild Card round, and would do the same for the NLDS if Smith feels good enough to be on the roster.
As for his availability for Game 1?
"As far as availability, not sure yet," Roberts said. "But he will be available to catch (at some point). Just trying to be mindful of [the fact that Smit hasn't] caught in a long time and then kind of looking at the series and the capacity he can take on. So those are things that are kind of going through our heads right now."
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Smith is coming off his third consecutive All-Star season, slashing .296/.404/.497 with 17 home runs, 61 RBIs and an OPS of .901. In his absence, Rortvedt has developed into an "unsung hero" for LA, going 11-for-49 (.224) in the regular season and 3-for-6 (.500) across the two Wild Card games.
He's also done an unbelievable job with the pitching staff, especially the starting rotation.
“Ben has been an unsung hero. Just coming in here trying to replace an All-Star catcher. He has the trust in the pitchers,” Roberts said. “He’s a servant first. He receives well. He throws well. He just understands who he is as a hitter. So to be able to kind of move runners, see pitches, put the ball in play, get hits when we need him.
“He’s been fantastic. And he had big shoes to fill, but he’s done a great job with the fingers, the catching, all of it.”
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