Will Smith -- General News

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants, with Will Smith set to lead off at designated hitter for the first time in his career, replacing Shohei Ohtani. This decision comes after the Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory on Wednesday, powered by Ohtani's pitching performance and an improved offensive showing from the slumping lineup.

Smith is currently batting .256 with 31 hits, 3 home runs, 17 RBIs, and 12 runs through 36 games in the 2026 season. The Dodgers stand at 25-18 overall (14-10 at home, 8-13 on the road), tied for first place in the National League West, while the Giants rank fourth with an 18-25 record. Emmet Sheehan will pitch for Los Angeles as they look to build momentum.

MLB Network's Greg Amsinger released his ranking of the top nine catchers in baseball, ranking Dodgers backup Dalton Rushing at #9. Notably absent from the list was Dodgers starting catcher Will Smith, despite his three World Series championships, three All-Star appearances, and two All-MLB selections. Amsinger justified the ranking by focusing on offensive statistics, noting Rushing's 1.038 OPS through 21 games outpaces Smith's .710 OPS through 34 games in 2026.

Rushing is slashing .302/.371/.667 with 7 home runs and 17 RBIs, compared to Smith's .270/.336/.374 with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs. However, Amsinger acknowledged a significant caveat: Rushing has only caught in 13 of his 21 games. The analyst stated he had to "take that into consideration" when making his ranking.

The omission prompted criticism from Dodgers fans and supporters of other excluded catchers like Cal Raleigh and Alejandro Kirk. While Rushing's offensive production is superior early in the 2026 season, Smith maintains advantages in defensive metrics including pitch framing and blocking wild pitches, though Rushing edges him slightly in pop time. As a veteran with World Series pedigree and extensive playoff experience, Smith likely maintains the edge as a complete player despite Rushing's hot bat through limited opportunities.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith and his wife Cara announced they are expecting their third child. The couple shared ultrasound images in an Instagram photoshoot featuring their two daughters on May 12, 2026. They did not disclose the baby's sex or due date, though Cara displayed her baby bump in the announcement.

The Smith pregnancy represents part of a broader trend among the Dodgers roster. Recently retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw and current players Kike Hernandez, Max Muncy, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts have all welcomed new children during the offseason and spring. This influx of newborns and young children has transformed the clubhouse atmosphere.

Kyle Tucker commented on the phenomenon, stating: 'We've got a lot of little ones running around the clubhouse and everyone right now. It's fun to see and share this experience with everyone, and have them come out to BP and the clubhouse and everything, it's really cool to see all of that.' The author notes that the roster could theoretically field a competitive lineup using only players who recently had or are expecting children, including Kershaw on the mound, Smith catching, and Freeman, Hernandez, Muncy, Betts, and Tucker in the field.

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, reclaiming first place in the National League West after San Diego's loss to Milwaukee. Designated hitter Will Smith, batting from the leadoff spot, set the tone with a home run to right-center field in the first inning. Pinch hitter Alex Call contributed a two-run single in the sixth inning. Manager Dave Roberts opted to rest Shohei Ohtani from the lineup to lighten his workload following recent offensive struggles, marking the first time a healthy Ohtani has missed back-to-back games since the universal DH rule began in 2022.

Despite the victory, the Dodgers (26-18) committed several mistakes that nearly cost them the game. In the second inning, a baserunning error left Teoscar Hernández stranded after Miguel Rojas hit a soft ground ball with no force play at the plate. Defensively, Hernández misread a fly ball in the fifth inning that resulted in Jung Hoo Lee's inside-the-park home run. The team also showed frustration during the game, with Dalton Rushing breaking his bat in the dugout after losing a review challenge on a called third strike. Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan pitched effectively through the first four innings before giving up hits in the fifth.

Will Smith, catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is on a Hall of Fame track despite being overshadowed by star-laden teammates like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. MLB insider Jayson Stark recently highlighted Smith among active players with Cooperstown potential, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Buster Posey. Through their first 752 games, their statistical profiles are remarkably similar: Posey recorded a .859 OPS with 102 home runs and 446 RBIs, while Smith has posted a .831 OPS with 131 home runs and 458 RBIs. Smith has equaled Posey's three World Series championships and possesses a stronger power profile.

Smith's postseason resume strengthens his Hall of Fame case. He hit the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 2024 World Series and caught every inning of that Fall Classic. In 2020, Smith hit a crucial go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning of an NLCS Game 5 against Atlanta when the Dodgers faced elimination down 3-1 in the series. With a contract extending through age 38, Smith has time to accumulate additional accolades and potentially bolster his Hall of Fame credentials through continued performance and additional World Series titles.

Will Smith, three-time World Series champion catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife Cara hosted their third annual Dodgers Comedy Night at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on May 7, 2026. The event was part of the Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival and aimed to raise money for their Catching Hope Foundation through ticket sales and auctions.

Multiple Dodgers players attended the event on their day off, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages. Manager Dave Roberts highlighted the significance of this attendance, stating: "We're together for essentially eight-and-a-half months of the year. We're together every day playing, so for guys to take an offday to support their teammate is fantastic."

The Catching Hope Foundation was established in 2021 with the goal of supporting underserved, low-income children in the Los Angeles community through education initiatives. The foundation has created reading nooks at elementary schools and provides Amazon wish lists for teachers. Recently, the foundation provided mental health resources for students affected by the Pacific Palisades fires in January 2025. Smith emphasized the foundation's impact: "Our goal is to raise funding for kids through education and their schools."