LOS ANGELES, California — The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back starting catcher Will Smith, backup Dalton Rushing and pitcher Justin Wrobleski from the injured list on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), bolstering their bench for the final month of the season.
Smith had been out since June 6 with a neck injury. Rushing was sidelined since Aug. 3 with a right arm injury. Wrobleski had been out because of left forearm inflammation.
“We’ve got a lot of the bases covered,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Now, the guys that essentially play every day need to just perform.”
Meanwhile, the next steps for Shohei Ohtani’s potential return to the mound could come soon.
“I do think that there’s going to be a conversation that needs to be had this week about what the outlook is, and we haven’t had it yet,” Roberts said.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched since early July because of continued issues with his left knee and right biceps. At the same time, his offensive production has nosedived, along with much of the starting lineup.
Closer Edwin Díaz pitched a simulated inning on Tuesday and likely will throw another live session before going on a rehab assignment.
“He looked good,” Rushing said. “Probably the most refined I think his stuff has been in the last few months here.”
Before getting hurt, Smith batted .249 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games. The three-time All-Star made five rehab starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .250 with two doubles and one homer.
Smith was in the starting lineup and set to bat fifth in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. He’ll start two of the three games in the series.
Rushing appeared in a career-high 74 games, hitting .253 with 12 homers and 36 RBI before his injury. He’ll be used as a pinch-hitter as he continues progressing from the injury, a role the 25-year-old has rarely been in.
