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Dodgers' roster moves and injury updates

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-25 23:16 UTC → 2026-08-31 20:14 UTC · added removed

The Dodgers have continued to juggle a cascade of injuries to key players. After an inflamed disc and neck stiffness sidelined All‑Star catcher Will Smith in early June, the club placed him on a 10‑day IL on June 11 and later moved him to the injured list with an indefinite absence. While manager Dave Roberts initially suggested a mid-to-late August return, the recovery process has been described by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman as “uncharted territory.” By late August, Smith began taking live batting practice, with Roberts indicating a potential rehab assignment and a goal of activation by early to mid-September to ensure readiness for the postseason. Smith has since completed a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, recording four hits in 16 at-bats, including a home run and two doubles. He is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Roberts noted Smith’s importance for providing stability to the lineup and pitching staff, noting that the team’s collective pitching ERA rose from 3.03 to 4.09 during his absence. Smith’s absence has placed additional strain on the roster; backup catcher roster, requiring the use of Dalton Rushing has been managing a partially torn UCL in his throwing arm Rushing, Eliezer Alfonzo, Hunter Feduccia, Chuckie Robinson, and has opted for rest over surgery. To bolster depth following Rushing’s injury, the Dodgers acquired Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia. As of late August, Smith Rortvedt. Additionally, reliever Blake Treinen has officially begun completed a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. The plan includes Smith catching five after being sidelined since June 19 with elbow inflammation, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings across seven games. Both Smith and batting second Treinen will require roster moves to ensure he is healthy for the postseason without a rushed return to the Major Leagues. active 40-man roster. Shohei Ohtani’s left-knee injury remains unresolved; the club has kept him in the lineup as a DH and has repeatedly stressed that his pitching return is being saved for the October playoff stretch. The Dodgers’ pitching staff has also struggled, with several arms on the mend and the bullpen ranking near the bottom of the league. In August, Los Angeles completed a high-profile signing of right-hander Tuliq Skubal, a deal that pushed the combined salaries of its five starters above the total payroll of 19 other MLB clubs.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-31 20:14 UTC Dodgers' roster moves and injury updates
  2. 2026-08-25 23:16 UTC Dodgers' roster moves and injury updates
  3. 2026-08-22 22:52 UTC Dodgers' roster moves and criticism
  4. 2026-08-08 06:04 UTC Dodgers' roster moves and criticism
  5. 2026-08-07 03:13 UTC Dodgers' catcher Will Smith injury updates
  6. 2026-08-01 23:31 UTC Dodgers' catcher Smith pain‑free, return eyed
  7. 2026-07-29 08:05 UTC Dodgers' injury shift as Smith returns, Ohtani delayed

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