The Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers has raised some eyebrows, notably with the absence of All-Star catcher Will Smith. Despite celebrating his 30th birthday, Smith will not be behind the plate to catch Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Instead, Austin Barnes is set to take on catching duties and bat ninth. Manager Dave Roberts is expected to address the media shortly and provide insights into Smith’s absence.
Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher Will Smith Not In Friday Night’s Lineup
Smith’s spring training was somewhat hampered by an ankle issue, later revealed by Roberts to be a bone bruise. This injury, originating from a slide last June, persisted throughout the remainder of the season and into the offseason.
“You can do all sorts of treatment and everything,” Smith noted earlier this spring, “but the only thing that really heals it is rest. We’re looking more into why maybe it’s not going away. Sometimes it just takes a while.”
The decision to rest Smith on Friday, following his appearance in Thursday’s game and with another off-day scheduled for Sunday, suggests a cautious approach. While the exact reason remains unclear, it’s possible the Dodgers are managing his workload to prevent further complications. Manager Roberts’ upcoming press conference at 3:20 p.m. PT is anticipated to shed light on the situation.
The Dodgers lineup for ring night vs. the Tigers, which is without the birthday boy Will Smith: 1. Shohei Ohtani DH 2. Mookie Betts SS 3. Freddie Freeman 1B 4. Teoscar Hernandez RF 5. Max Muncy 3B 6. Tommy Edman 2B 7. Michael Conforto LF 8. Andy Pages CF 9. Austin Barnes C