Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2026

After a 5–1 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers received bad news about Dalton Rushing.

Rushing had an MRI on his injured right elbow on Monday, and the test revealed a slight UCL tear. He will be shut down from throwing for four to six weeks. Then, in September, he will see how his elbow responds. If the elbow doesn’t respond well, his season will likely be over.

Will Smith is still dealing with the irritated disc in his neck. He is doing baseball activities before going on a long rehabilitation assignment. He hasn’t played since June 5^th. The Dodgers miss Smith’s offensive production from the right side. Since Smith was the most consistent right-handed hitter in the Dodger lineup, the team has struggled offensively without his presence.

According to Dave Roberts, Ben Rortvedt will get the “lion’s share of the catching.” After his first start as a Dodger, Tarik Skubal praised Rortvedt, who has spent the 2026 season in Triple-A in the New York Mets organization. He is an elite defensive catcher, but his offensive production isn’t major-league caliber. He can advance runners with a sacrifice bunt.

The Dodgers acquired Hunter Feduccia to be their backup catcher until either Smith or Rushing returns. Feduccia was developed in the Dodger organization. Last year, the Dodgers traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was a backup catcher. This season, in 61 games, he has a .234 batting average with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. Since he has been in the Dodger organization, he knows the Dodgers’ young pitchers, a real advantage for the team.

The news about Rushing is a major blow to the Dodgers. Luckily for the Dodgers, Rushing’s injury surfaced before the trading deadline, enabling the Dodgers to add catching depth.