On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Chicago Cubs in the final game of their series. The Dodgers are aiming to bounce back and avoid a three-game sweep after losing the first two matchups.
Event Context
In a disappointing turn of events, the team received some unfortunate news just before their upcoming matchup. “I’m not sure what this means for the remainder of the season or the postseason,” said Dave Roberts during an AM570 interview on Tuesday. “On the bright side, this news came just before the trade deadline, so we are now scouting for two new catchers,” he added.
The 25-year-old catcher for the Dodgers remained in Los Angeles while the team headed to Chicago, where further tests revealed a partial ligament tear. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, who covers the Dodgers, Roberts indicated that there is only a “very small” possibility that Rushing will return to action behind the plate this season.
Despite this setback, the team hopes to keep him available as a left-handed hitting option if circumstances allow. With Dalton’s recovery timeline still unclear, the Dodgers proactively enhanced their catching depth ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring Ben Rortvedt from the New York Mets and Hunter Feduccia from the Tampa Bay Rays. Rortvedt started behind the plate in Tuesday’s game, with Feduccia taking over in the eighth inning.
Even with recent struggles, the Los Angeles Dodgers maintain their lead in the National League West, boasting a 69-45 record and holding a nine-game cushion at the top of the division.
Rushing’s performance before injury
Manager Dave Roberts announced that Rushing will be sidelined from throwing for several weeks, but the team is hopeful that he can avoid surgery. Prior to his injury, Rushing participated in 74 games, posting a batting average of .253 along with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. His last game was on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.
Will Smith also sidelined
The Dodgers will be missing their skilled veteran catcher, Will Smith. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since June 5 due to an inflamed disc in his neck, leaving the defending World Series champions without his experience behind the plate.
Match Outlook
Over the weekend, manager Dave Roberts shared that the catcher is progressing well. However, he will likely need an additional three to four weeks of rehabilitation before being ready to return from the injured list.
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As reported by ESPN, Dalton Rushing has been placed on the injured list due to what was initially labeled a mild elbow strain. Further evaluations revealed he has a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow.
