WILL SMITH NEWS

Tallies three hits, including homer Smith went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and scored an additional run in an 11-4 victory versus the Angels on Friday.

Impact Smith is one of four Dodgers position players elected to this season's upcoming All-Star Game, and they all went deep in the contest, with Smith completing the feat on a two-run shot in the eighth inning. The backstop finished with his first multi-hit game since June 20 -- he had been slumping with a .154/.306/.359 slash line over his previous 11 games. Despite that stretch, Smith is still putting up excellent numbers on the campaign, posting a .279/.396/.498 slash line, 13 homers, 44 RBI, one steal and a sterling 43:38 BB:K over 283 plate appearances.

JULY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Thursday Smith is not in the lineup Thursday against the Pirates.

Impact Smith will grab some rest after handling the catching duties in the first three games of the Dodgers' four-game set versus Pittsburgh. Austin Barnes is starting behind the plate and batting ninth in Thursday's series finale.

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

The (first-half) All-MLB Teams

Who've been the best players in baseball at each position? All-Star starters don't always tell the most accurate story.

JULY 5, 2023

Former Dodgers OF Applauds Will Smith Finally Making All-Star Team Will Smith is making his first appearance in the Midsummer Classic

JULY 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Receives Sunday off Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Smith started the first two games of the series in Kansas City and will take a seat for the finale after going 1-for-9 with a triple and a run. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate to catch for Tony Gonsolin.

JULY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Will Smith Misses Out on All-Star Starting Spot, 3 LA Teammates Make Team Will Smith got snubbed!

JUNE 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Dodgers News: Will Smith Misses Out on All-Star Starting Spot, 3 LA Teammates Make Team Will Smith got snubbed!

JUNE 30, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Gets breather Thursday Smith is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rockies.

Impact This appears to be a routine night off for Smith, who handling the catching duties in the first two games of the Dodgers' three-game set at Coors Field and drew a trio of walks Wednesday. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate and bat ninth in Thursday's series finale.

JUNE 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep again Sunday Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Sunday in an extra-innings loss to Houston.

Impact Smith homered for the second straight contest, slugging a game-tying two-run shot to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The star catcher continues to be a steady and potent force in the heart of the Dodgers' lineup, slashing .306/.479/.583 with three long balls, eight RBI, six runs and a 10:11 BB:K over his past 11 games. Smith's 1.12 BB/K ranks second behind only Luis Arraez among qualified major-league hitters this season.

JUNE 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Launches long ball Saturday Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in Saturday's 8-7 victory versus the Astros.

Impact Smith put the Dodgers on the board with a solo shot to left field in the first inning and scored the game-tying run during the team's rally in the eighth. The long ball was his 11th of the season, which ranks fourth among big-league catchers. Smith's other offensive numbers help make him one of the game's elite hitting backstops, as he's slashing .292/.407/.508 with 39 RBI, 36 runs, one steal and a 37:33 BB:K.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers rally to beat Astros 8-7 after Houston reliever Stanek called for balk in 8th

James Outman scored the go-ahead run on a balk by Houston reliever Ryan Stanek in a messy eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied...

JUNE 25, 2023

Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr. elected to start in MLB All-Star Game

Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. were the first players selected for the 2023 All-Star Game. Here's who else made the cut.

JUNE 22, 2023

Out Wednesday vs. White Sox Smith is not in the starting lineup versus the White Sox on Wednesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith will take a seat with Austin Barnes (wrist) returning to the lineup for the Dodgers for the first time since Thursday. In the month of June, Smith has slashed .206/.289/.441 with two homers and five RBI over 34 at-bats.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pops 10th homer Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the White Sox.

Impact Smith opened the scoring in the first inning, and that was ultimately all the Dodgers needed for the win. The catcher has been a little shaky at the plate lately, going 9-for-38 (.237) over his last 11 games, though he has three homers and seven RBI in that span. For the season, he owns a .290/.393/.521 slash line with 10 long balls, 35 RBI, 32 runs scored and a stolen base over 48 contests. He remains a consistent presence in the heart of the order when he plays.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Thursday Smith is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Impact It's a day game after a night game, so Smith will begin the afternoon on the bench. Austin Barnes will catch Clayton Kershaw.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Snaps skid with two XBH Smith went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two total runs and two total RBI in Thursday's loss to the Reds.

Impact Smith had been uncharacteristically quiet at the plate over his past three games coming into Wednesday, going 1-for-11 with four strikeouts. The catcher got back on track with a pair of hits, including a third-inning two-run homer. Smith is tied for fourth among catchers with nine long balls on the campaign, and he's staked a loud claim for his first All-Star selection with a .305/.407/.532 slash line along with 32 RBI, 31 runs, one steal and a sterling 28:19 BB:K.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting breather Tuesday Smith is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.

Impact This looks to be a routine night off for Smith, who played the full game at catcher Monday in the Dodgers' 6-1 defeat of Washington. Austin Barnes will handle catching duties and hit ninth Tuesday versus the Nats.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Impact With Sunday's game beginning at 11:35 a.m. ET, Smith will get a well-deserved breather after he had started behind the plate in each of the Dodgers' last six games. Austin Barnes will step in at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Gavin Stone.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks in three runs Tuesday Smith went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 8-1 victory versus Atlanta.

Impact Smith plated the game's first run with a single in the first inning and knocked in two more with a two-out double in the second. The 28-year-old had been in a mild slump coming into the contest, going 2-for-14 over his previous five games. As a whole, Smith has been among the league's most productive catchers on the campaign, slashing .310/.406/.552 with seven homers, 25 runs, 27 RBI and a stolen base. He's also drawn 21 walks and struck out just 12 times over 143 plate appearances, giving him a 1.75 BB/K -- the top mark among all major-leaguers with at least 100 trips to the dish.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

In lineup Tuesday Smith is in the Dodgers' lineup Tuesday versus Atlanta, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact Smith took a Marcell Ozuna backswing to the head in Monday's series opener, but he played the entire game and ultimately checked out fine afterward. The star catcher is slashing .297/.399/.541 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 31 games (138 plate appearances) this season for Los Angeles.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Saturday Smith will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Impact Smith has delivered his typically excellent performance at the plate this season, slashing .314/.406/.571 with seven homers in 28 games. He'll get a rest Saturday with Austin Barnes taking over behind the plate.

MAY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Tuesday Smith is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Twins.

Impact Austin Barnes will take a turn behind the plate and bat ninth versus the Twins and right-hander Bailey Ober. Smith homered in Monday's series opener and is sitting on a stellar .323/.412/.613 batting line through 114 plate appearances this year.

MAY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Continues raking Smith went 2-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Monday's victory over the Twins.

Impact Smith and Max Muncy went back-to-back in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Smith came around to score again on Muncy's second homer of the night in the third inning. The Dodgers' catcher is riding a six-game hitting streak and is in the midst of his best season, as he has a 1.025 OPS.

MAY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Soto, Casey Schmitt headline Ben Verlander's latest MLB team of the week

Ben Verlander's latest MLB team of the week includes Juan Soto, Casey Schmitt, Salvador Perez and others.

MAY 15, 2023

Sitting Sunday against Padres Smith is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Padres.

Impact Smith will get a day of rest Sunday after picking up hits in the first two games of the series against San Diego. Austin Barnes will be behind the plate for the Dodgers and hit ninth versus Ryan Weathers and the Padres.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE