00:00Dodgers suffer devastating injury blow ahead of postseason.
00:04The Dodgers are limping toward the postseason, and now they'll be doing it without one of their most reliable weapons.
00:11Manager Dave Roberts just confirmed what fans had hoped they wouldn't hear.
00:15All-star catcher Will Smith has a hairline fracture in his hand, and while the regular season is almost certainly a no-go, his playoff status is now hanging in the balance.
00:24A career year cut short at the worst time.
00:27Let's call this what it is, a major gut punch.
00:31Smith was excelling this season with a .296 average .404 on-base percentage and 17 home runs.
00:39Defensively solid, he was crucial, especially as Mookie Betts struggled early.
00:43Now, with the postseason nearing, L.A. is troubled, not just missing Smith, but lacking alternatives.
00:51Rushing struggles, Rortvet steps in.
00:53Dalton Rushing, the kid who was supposed to be the next man up?
00:57Yeah, that plan hasn't exactly panned out.
01:00In 47 games, he's managed a rough one 84-246-288, slash line with a jaw-dropping 39.1% strikeout rate.
01:10The Dodgers took a risk back in May, DFA-ing long-time backup Austin Barnes to give Rushing some room to breathe.
01:17But with October looming, that leash is looking mighty short.
01:21Enter.
01:22Ben Rortvet.
01:22And if you're asking, wait, who?
01:25You're not alone.
01:27He's posted a lackluster slashing 165, slash 250, slash 196 in 39 games with the Rays and Dodgers, underwhelming for the playoffs.
01:38However, his strength lies in defense as a reliable catcher with strong game-calling skills.
01:44He might not hit homers, but he can stabilize the bullpen's turmoil.
01:48Dodgers' eyes on the clock.
01:50And the core.
01:50Still, let's not sugarcoat it.
01:53Losing Will Smith forces this team to reshuffle its identity at the worst possible time.
01:59Freddie Freeman and Shohei Otani must elevate their game, as the room for error has drastically narrowed.
02:05While stellar pitching can clinch playoff wins, scoring remains essential.
02:09So now we wait.
02:11Smith's hand is in the hands of time and recovery timelines.
02:14But if Smith can't make it back in time, October could get real dicey.
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