On September 16th, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a couple of changes to their catcher lineup. Dalton Rushin was activated from the injured list and is now back with the team, ready to play. To make room for him, Chucky Robinson, who had been filling in as the backup catcher, was optioned off the Major League roster. Will Smith, the team's regular starting catcher, remains on the injured list with a bone bruise.
However, there's a bit of good news for the Dodgers. Smith is eligible to come off the injured list this weekend, just in time for their homestand against the San Francisco Giants. His return would be a welcome boost, since the Dodgers have been managing without their star catcher for a while now. The team has admitted there's been some second guessing about how they've handled the catcher position.
Manager Dave Roberts has even said that their summer grit around their decisions with Will Smith. Managing a roster isn't easy, especially when injuries pop up and force you to shuffle things around quickly, but the Dodgers are obviously eager to get their catching situation more stable. The activation of Dalton Rushin is expected to help out in the meantime. Fans are curious to see what he can contribute, especially since the team is still fighting for positioning as the regular season winds down.
While it's not clear yet how many games Rushin will play, his return adds some depth behind the plate, and she gives the Dodgers more line of flexibility in the coming days. For now, the team and its supporters are hoping for healthy returns and fewer roster headaches. With the possibility of Will Smith coming back soon, the Dodgers could be looking at a much-needed boost behind the plate as the postseason approaches.