Will Smith Set to Return to Dodgers Lineup Tuesday

Will Smith is set to return to the Dodgers lineup on Tuesday, per Sonja Chen at MLB.com, giving Los Angeles a familiar presence behind the plate at a moment when the offense has been scuffling.

The timing matters. The Dodgers have been navigating a stretch of lineup uncertainty, and Smith's return from the injured list represents one of the more straightforward pieces of good news the club has received lately.

What remains unconfirmed

The MLB.com report does not specify the nature of Smith's injury, the length of his IL stint, or whether the Tuesday return is contingent on any further evaluation. Those details remain unconfirmed.

The broader picture

Smith's return lands against a backdrop of genuine concern elsewhere on the roster. Per multiple Posterior items, Shohei Ohtani reported knee soreness following a bullpen session and will not pitch Sunday or Tuesday, with the Dodgers still determining whether he takes the mound again this season. His rotation return timeline is, at this point, unclear. Blake Snell, meanwhile, missed three months in 2026 following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow before returning with strong results.

Smith stepping back in does not resolve the larger questions swirling around the pitching staff, but it is a concrete addition to a lineup that has needed one.