Sun Sep 07 00:20:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, compounded by an injury to catcher Will Smith. Smith left the game in the second inning after taking a foul ball off his hand. While initial scans were negative, he is expected to miss the series opener against the Orioles. Rookie Dalton Rushing will fill in, and the team has called up Ben Rortvedt from Triple-A. This injury adds to the Dodgers’ offensive woes, as they have struggled with inconsistent hitting since July. The team also stranded runners in scoring position. In related roster moves, Alex Freeland was optioned to Triple-A and Alexis Díaz was designated for assignment. The Dodgers hope to turn things around as they aim for division and postseason success.

**News Article:**

**Dodgers Catcher Will Smith Injured in Loss to Pirates, Rushing to Start**

PITTSBURGH – The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a setback on Wednesday night, losing 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates while also losing starting catcher Will Smith to a right hand contusion. Smith exited the game in the second inning after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand. X-rays and a CT scan revealed no major damage, but Smith is expected to miss Friday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

“We can’t afford to lose him,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. “I guess we’ll know more in the coming days.”

Rookie Dalton Rushing stepped in to replace Smith and will likely start behind the plate in his absence. The Dodgers have also called up Ben Rortvedt from Triple-A Oklahoma City to bolster their catching depth. In corresponding roster moves, Alex Freeland and Alexis Díaz were removed from the 40-man roster.

The injury to Smith adds to the Dodgers’ recent struggles, who have had inconsistent production and have stranded multiple runners.

“Obviously, we had good at-bats getting on-base today. We just didn’t get the hit today,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Despite the loss, the Dodgers remain in contention for the NL West title and a top seed in the National League playoffs. They hope to turn things around quickly and get Smith back on the field. The Dodgers aim to play their best baseball down the stretch, but the recent performance has been a concern for Manager Roberts.

“I do believe that the guys that we have in the room are capable of putting together consistent team at-bats of urgency from the first pitch on,” Roberts said. “But at the end of the day, I’m sure our players are echoing the same message that we just got to get it done. I can talk about it as much as I want, but we got to get it done.”

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