LOS ANGELES — Will Smith is starting behind the plate for the Dodgers for Sunday’s series finale against the Padres, which will give the All-Star catcher three starts in three games against the division rivals. It’s the first time all season the Dodgers haven’t split up the catching starts with a day game directly after a night game.
Sunday is Smith’s 86th start behind the plate this season in 124 games. He has 383 plate appearances through the first 123 games. Last season, Smith started 91 games at catcher through 124 games plus three more games at designated hitter, totaling 432 plate appearances though 123 team games.
“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,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Talking to him, he feels good. So it makes sense today.”
Roberts said that Smith and Dalton Rushing would split the four starts at catcher in Coors Field against the Rockies from Monday to Thursday, in the middle of a stretch of 13 game days in a row. He would not yet commit to saying Smith would again start all three games next weekend against the Padres in San Diego.
“It’s read and react, and right now I’m reacting. It makes sense,” Roberts said. “Coming out of Denver is a different deal.”
“That was a big step for him,” Roberts said. “He’s anxious to get going.”
Up next for Hernández will be a rehab assignment. Hernández and Hyeseong Kim, who also took batting practice on Sunday, will both join Triple-A Oklahoma City at some point this week in Tacoma. It’ll be a busy week for the Comets, who already have Michael Kopech two games into a rehab assignment and will have relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates join them on Tuesday.