The Los Angeles Dodgers already secured a series victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night. Now, they’ll send Tyler Glasnow to the mound Sunday afternoon with a chance to complete the sweep — and gain breathing room in a razor-thin NL West race.
But the real story heading into the finale isn’t on the mound. It’s behind the plate.
Will Smith, who has quietly been one of the most reliable hitters in baseball this year, will start for a third consecutive game. For most of the season, manager Dave Roberts has avoided playing Smith in back-to-back-to-back contests, especially with a day game following a night game. This weekend, however, circumstances call for leaning on the Dodgers’ All-Star catcher.
“Part of it is we’ve done a very good job of building up equity as far as the workload, and being able to push him at certain times,” Roberts explained. “Talking to him, he feels good. So it makes sense today.”
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Smith has been indispensable. He entered Sunday leading the National League in batting average (.306) and on-base percentage (.413), while adding 15 home runs, 19 doubles, and a 160 wRC+ that ranks among the top three in the league. His consistency has been crucial for a Dodgers team still searching for rhythm after a midseason slump.
And it’s not just the bat. Saturday night, Smith tilted the game with his arm, throwing out three Padres baserunners in the first two innings — the most caught stealings by a Dodgers catcher in a game in 15 years. San Diego tried to spark its offense with aggression on the bases, only to be shut down each time.
“Looking back, maybe we shouldn’t have gone,” SD shortstop Xander Bogaerts admitted afterward. “I got my jump. I thought I was safe by a mile. But (Smith) has a good arm, man.”
Smith went hitless at the plate but reached twice on walks and scored two runs, embodying the kind of all-around impact the Dodgers have come to expect.
The timing of his surge couldn’t be better. Max Muncy’s latest trip to the injured list has left LA short on middle-of-the-order power. Smith has filled that void while continuing to anchor the defense. After battling through a broken rib in 2023 and an ankle injury earlier this year, his improved health has given Roberts the freedom to ride his hot hand.
The gamble on Smith long-term is also paying off. Just before the 2024 season, the 30-year-old signed a 10-year, $140 million extension. He rewarded that investment immediately by playing a pivotal role in last fall’s championship run.
Sunday offers another chance for Smith to prove his worth in the here and now. A Dodgers win would push them two games clear of San Diego in the standings. A loss, however, would bring the rivals even again atop the division.
With Glasnow opposing Yu Darvish and San Diego desperate to salvage the finale, Los Angeles will need more than just pitching. They’ll need Smith to keep doing what he has done all year — set the tone, steady the lineup, and seize the biggest moments.
Roberts summed up the decision simply: “It’s read and react, and right now I’m reacting. It makes sense.”
For LA, it makes even more sense when Will Smith is in the middle of everything.