Impact While Smith should see most of the playing time behind the dish in 2021, manager Dave Roberts recently described Austin Barnes as a "1A option" at catcher. Barnes will draw the start on Opening Day, batting eighth.
APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
WILL SMITH #16 - CATCHER - LOS ANGELES DODGERS
20 HR •
75 RBI •
.248 AVG
20 HR
75 RBI
.248 AVG
Takes seat Thursday Smith isn't starting Thursday's game against Colorado, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Caps big spring with solo blast Smith went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday in an exhibition victory over the Angels.
Impact Smith's homer was his second in two days and third overall this spring. The backstop slashed .372/.438/.651 during Cactus League play, driving in 10 runs and posting a 4:6 BB:K across 45 plate appearances. He'll serve as the Dodgers' primary catcher during the regular season, though manager Dave Roberts has indicated that Smith and Austin Barnes won't be far apart in terms of games logged behind the plate.
MARCH 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Slated for 'around 90 games' Manager Dave Roberts suggested Friday that Smith will start "somewhere around 90 games" this season, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Impact Roberts mentioned earlier this spring that Smith and Austin Barnes could pair in somewhat of a timeshare this season, and those plans appear to be taking shape given the manager's estimate for Smith's starts. This is far from positive news for fantasy managers who have invested in Smith as a top-three option at catcher based on his excellent 163 wRC+ last season -- tops among MLB catchers -- but it falls in line with the Dodgers' desire to give ample time to the defensively superior Barnes. Smith should still put up relatively strong numbers in comparison to other backstops, but his value will certainly take a hit if he is indeed sitting 2-3 times per week.
MARCH 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Dodgers eager to defend World Series title in full season
The Los Angeles Dodgers are eager to defend their first World Series championship in 32 years when they open the season in AprilMARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
May share duties behind plate Smith is expected to pair with Austin Barnes in a timeshare at catcher for the Dodgers this season, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Impact Though Smith is considerably more explosive offensively than Barnes -- the former slashed .289/.401/.579 with eight homers last season, while the latter put up a .244/.353/.314 line with only one long ball -- the Dodgers value Barnes' defense to such a degree that they played him over Smith behind the dish frequently during their postseason run in 2020. In that scenario, Smith was able to shift over to designated hitter, but with the DH not expected to be utilized in the National League this season, he's not going to see as many at-bats as your typical starting catcher. "If you look at timeshare, I guess [Barnes is] a backup, but I don't see it as such," manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. "I think it's a 1 and 1A. They're both very valuable, and I think that we've done a good job of using both of them and exploiting strengths and things to help us win baseball games." That doesn't make it clear exactly how playing time will be divided between the two, and Smith is productive enough to be a valuable fantasy contributor even if he's out of the lineup a few days per week, but the situation bears watching early in the campaign to get a sense of how things will shake out.
MARCH 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Bellinger agrees to $16.1M, 1-year contract with Dodgers
Dodgers star Cody Bellinger agreed to a $16.1 million, one-year contract with the World Series champions that avoided salary arbitrationJANUARY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Weekend Sports in Brief
OCTOBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dodgers charged with 2nd error on wild G4 play for Rays win
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been charged with a second error on the wild play that ended Game 4 of the World SeriesOCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Latest: Kershaw beats Rays again, gives LA Series lead
Clayton Kershaw beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time in six days, escaping a fourth-inning jam with a quick reaction throw to cut down a runner trying for a rare steal of ho...OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays' rally joins Buckner, Bevens among wild Series endings
Brett Phillips’ tying single with two outs in the ninth inning turned into a game-ending hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ball twice, allowing Randy Arozarena to stumbl...OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jansen blows save, Dodgers squander Game 4, Series tied at 2
Kenley Jansen was one strike from saving Game 4 and putting the Los Angeles Dodgers within one win of the World Series title that has eluded them since 1988OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arozarena slugs into WS history, stumbles into October lore
Hours after slugging his way into World Series history, Randy Arozarena stumbled into October loreOCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stumbling stunner! Rays shock Dodgers in 9th, tie Series 2-2
The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten even in the World Series after a wild game-ending play for an 8-7 win in Game 4 over the Los Angeles DodgersOCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
World Series notes: Phillips delivers big hit for Rays
Brett Phillips was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade with Kansas City in AugustOCTOBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Latest: Rays beat LA 8-7, tie Series at two games each
The Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a stunning rally in the bottom of the ninth inning when Brett Phillips’ two-out single and a pair of Dodgers misplays resulted in two runs that beat L...OCTOBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday Sports in Brief
OCTOBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vaunted bullpen wobbles, hangs on as Rays get even with LA
Tampa Bay’s stable was a little shaky — and still managed to close out Game 2 of the World SeriesOCTOBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Smacks home run Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Wednesday in a loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the World Series.
Impact The 25-year-old swatted a solo homer in the sixth inning off Nick Anderson. The impressive catcher slashed .289/.401/.579 during the regular season while recording an impressive 164 OPS+.
OCTOBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rays add extra LH hitters in lineup against Dodgers rookie
The Tampa Bay Rays have more left-handed hitters in their lineup for Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles DodgersOCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kershaw, LA stars shine, Dodgers top Rays 8-3 in WS opener
Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers left the Tampa Bay Rays stuck in neutral to open a surreal World SeriesOCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Glasnow wilts, can't stay with Kershaw as Rays drop Game 1
Tyler Glasnow couldn't make it through the fifth inning in his matchup with postseason veteran Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the World SeriesOCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays, Dodgers set lineups for Game 1 of the World Series
Cody Bellinger is in his normal spot in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crucial home run Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves on Friday.
Impact Smith provided the turning point of the contest, launching the homer in the sixth inning to put the Dodgers up 4-2. From there, the team never relinquished the lead to force Game 6 on Saturday. It was Smith's first career postseason home run, and one of the few bright spots for him this October. In 41 plate appearances, Smith has hit just .216/.293/.378, though he has managed to drive in nine runs.
OCTOBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Takes seat Thursday Smith isn't starting Game 4 of the NLCS against Atlanta on Thursday.
Impact Smith had a double with two RBI and three strikeouts in Wednesday's blowout win, and he'll get a breather for Game 4. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate Thursday.
OCTOBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Huge game in series clincher Smith went 5-for-6 with a run and three RBI in Thursday's NLDS Game 3 win over the Padres.
Impact Smith was trouble for Padres pitchers throughout the game, finishing with three singles and a pair of doubles. He drove in one run with a single in the top of the fourth and added two more RBI on a double in the top of the ninth. He's now hitting .294/.429/.412 through five postseason games, a huge step up from his struggles in his first taste of playoff action last year, when he grabbed just a single hit in four games.
OCTOBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
