Will Smith has hairline hand fracture, putting his Dodgers playoff availability in question

"Dodgers catcher Will Smith has a hairline fracture in his right hand and is doubtful to return before the end of the regular season, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers are "hopeful" Smith will be available for the postseason, but whether he will be ready for the very start of the playoffs - which likely will be Sept. 30 - remains "up in the air," Roberts said."

"Initially, both an X-ray and an MRI on Smith's hand came back clean, which is why the Dodgers allowed him to return to action as soon as they did. But his injury lingered and the Dodgers sent him back for another MRI at the end of this past week. This time, the scan showed what both Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described as a "small" fracture."

Will Smith has a hairline fracture in his right hand and is considered doubtful to return before the regular season concludes. The Dodgers remain hopeful he will be available for the postseason, but his readiness for the playoff start around Sept. 30 is uncertain. Smith was struck by a foul ball on Sept. 3 in Pittsburgh, missed five games, returned Sept. 9, then experienced swelling and was placed on the injured list. Initial X-ray and MRI scans were negative, but a subsequent MRI detected a small fracture. Replacement catcher Ben Rortvedt has batted .294 in 13 games.

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