What quickly turned into a lopsided affair for the Los Angeles Dodgers was made worse when J.D. Martinez and Will Smith were both removed early from Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds due to respective injuries.
Smith was in the game until Austin Barnes took over behind the plate in the fourth inning. The Dodgers announced Smith’s early exit was due to a left elbow contusion.
That stemmed from getting hit by a pitch in the first inning. Although Smith getting removed was due to what appears to be a minor injury, he was on deck to bat in the bottom of the third before the inning came to an end.
Furthermore, the Dodgers faced a 7-0 deficit at the time, and Sunday was the first time this season Smith started at catcher in a day game after also being in the lineup the night prior.
Meanwhile, Martinez was pinch-hit for before taking an at-bat, leaving because of left hamstring tightness. It marked a second time in the past week that Martinez has dealt with that injury.
Smith went hitless and only reached base twice during the weekend series agains the Reds.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts may provide more information on Martinez’s and Smith’s injuries after the game.
Will Smith injuries
The elbow contusion is a second injury Smith has dealt with this season, with the first being a concussion that was more serious than initially believed.
The 28-year-old wound up missing two weeks in April because of the concussion, and it’s given Roberts reason for pause with each foul ball he now takes off the face mask.
There was one instance in particular during June that required the Dodgers to check on Smith.
“I got a little PTSD,” Roberts admitted at the time. “He assured us that he’s fine and in a good spot. But I do hold my breath a little bit.”
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