WILL SMITH NEWS

Hammers 17th homer Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Friday's 10-9 win over the Diamondbacks.

Impact Smith's seventh-inning blast gave the Dodgers much-needed breathing room. The catcher has had a largely forgettable August, going 12-for-68 (.176) over 19 contests. He's hit two homers and driven in 10 runs in that span. For the season, Smith has a .243/.325/.428 slash line with 17 homers, 66 RBI, 63 runs scored and 22 doubles across 108 games.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Thursday Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact After starting seven of the Dodgers' last eight games, Smith will get a chance to rest Thursday as Austin Barnes (toe) starts behind the dish in his first game back from the injured list.

AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Smith is on the bench for Sunday's afternoon tilt after starting the previous five games. Hunter Feduccia will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Gavin Stone.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Receiving break Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Impact Smith started the previous three contests but will sit for Sunday's day game. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate to catch for lefty Clayton Kershaw.

AUGUST 18 • ROTOWIRE

Idle Wednesday Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Smith broke out of his slump at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance Tuesday that included a home run, and he'll get a breather Wednesday while Austin Barnes starts behind the dish and bats eighth.

AUGUST 14 • ROTOWIRE

Ends power drought Smith went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Brewers.

Impact Smith had gone 22 games without a homer and had just two doubles among 12 hits while batting .145 in that span. This was also his first multi-hit effort in August. The veteran catcher is up to 16 homers, 62 RBI, 57 runs scored, 21 doubles and a .251/.331/.444 slash line through 97 contests overall. Smith remains in a starting role, but he has some work to do to make up for his lengthy power slump.

AUGUST 14 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.

Impact After going 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored during Friday's victory, Smith will give way to Austin Barnes behind the plate.

AUGUST 10 • ROTOWIRE

Soothes slump with two RBI Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two RBI in Friday's 9-5 win against Pittsburgh.

Impact Smith's third-inning two-run single was hardly well-struck -- it was a blooper that landed in right field on a check swing -- but it was a big moment for the catcher given his post-break slump that had included a .096 batting average and 32.2 percent strikeout rate over his previous 13 contests. The recent punchouts have been particularly out of character for the All-Star backstop, whose strikeout rates have been 16.6 and 16.1 percent in the past two seasons, respectively. Smith's slump has brought his season slash line down to .247/.327/.433, and his .760 OPS is on pace for a career-worst mark. He's still been among the most productive fantasy performers at his position, though, with 15 home runs, 60 RBI and 54 runs over 407 plate appearances on the campaign.

AUGUST 10 • ROTOWIRE

Soothes slump with two RBI Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two RBI in Friday's 9-5 win against Pittsburgh.

Impact Smith's third-inning two-run single wasn't well-struck -- it was a blooper that landed in right field on a check swing -- but it was a big moment for the catcher given his post-break slump that had included a .096 batting average and 32.2 percent strikeout rate over his previous 13 contests. The recent punchouts have been particularly out of character for the All-Star backstop, whose strikeout rates have been 16.6 and 16.1 percent in the past two seasons, respectively. Smith's slump has brought his season slash line down to .247/.327/.433, and his .760 OPS is on pace for a career-worst mark. He's still been among the most productive fantasy performers at his position, though, with 15 home runs, 60 RBI and 54 runs over 407 plate appearances on the campaign.

AUGUST 10 • ROTOWIRE

Receiving Wednesday off Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Impact Smith started the first two games of the series but will sit for the finale after going 0-for-8 with an RBI and three strikeouts. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Gavin Stone.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Receiving rest Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Smith started the previous four games but will receive Sunday off in the midst of a 3-for-32 slump. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate to catch for righty River Ryan.

AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup Sunday Smith is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against Houston.

Impact Smith will get a breather Sunday after going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts over the first two games of the series. Austin Barnes will start behind home plate and bat eighth against Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Thursday's lineup Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Smith will be held out of Thursday's series finale after going 0-for-10 with two walks over the first three games of the series. Austin Barnes will start instead behind the dish, batting eighth.

JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Impact Smith started the first two games coming out of the break and will receive Sunday off after he went 2-for-9 with a walk, an RBI and a run. Austin Barnes will do the catching for lefty James Paxton in the series finale.

JULY 21 • ROTOWIRE

After Kiké's pair of game-tying knocks, Smith walks it off in the 11th LOS ANGELES -- Before the game, Kiké Hernández celebrated a significant moment in his career. He reached the 10-year mark in service time, a...

JULY 21 • MLB.COM

Resting Saturday Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Impact Smith has struck out six times in eight at-bats over his last two games, and the Dodgers will now give him a day off to regroup Saturday while Austin Barnes starts at catcher.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Getting night off Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.

Impact The newly minted All-Star will get a breather Wednesday while Austin Barnes receives a turn behind the dish. Smith was one of the few bright spots for the Dodgers in Tuesday's 10-1 loss in the series opener, going 2-for-4 with a walk in the blowout.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep again Saturday Smith went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-3 win against Milwaukee.

Impact After belting three solo homers Friday, Smith smashed a two-run shot in his first at-bat Saturday. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the backstop became the first Dodger to homer in four straight at-bats since Adrian Gonzalez in 2015 and the first major-leaguer to do so since Jose Altuve in September of last season. Smith's two-game power surge has pushed him to 15 long balls on the campaign, tied for third among MLB catchers.

JULY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Will Smith, Dodgers seek sweep of Brewers in clash of division leaders Will Smith will take aim at the fences and his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance when he guides the Los Angeles Dodgers into the f...

JULY 7 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Will Smith, Dodgers seek sweep of Brewers in clash of division leaders Will Smith will take aim at the fences and his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance when he guides the Los Angeles Dodgers into the f...

JULY 7 • THESTATE.COM

Will Smith, Dodgers seek sweep of Brewers in clash of division leaders Will Smith will take aim at the fences and his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance when he guides the Los Angeles Dodgers into the f...

JULY 7 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Pummels three homers Smith went 3-for-3 with three solo home runs, two walks and four total runs scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.

Impact Smith hit just two homers in June, so he's already off to a fantastic start in July. The catcher went to the opposite field for his first-inning blast before pulling his solo shots in the third and seventh innings. Smith is up to a .276/.349/.502 slash line with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles and one triple over 73 contests this season.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Pummels three homers Smith went 3-for-3 with three solo home runs, two walks and four total runs scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.

Impact Smith hit just two homers in June, so he's already off to a fantastic start in July. The catcher went to the opposite field for his first-inning blast before pulling his solo shots in the third and seventh innings. Smith is up to a .276/.349/.502 slash line with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles and one triple over 73 contests this season.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE