The Los Angeles Dodgers face a setback as the NL West playoff race tightens. Catcher Will Smith will not return from the injured list when first eligible on Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the decision. Smith is still dealing with swelling in his right hand after suffering a bone bruise earlier this month.

The injury update surrounding Smith affects the team’s plans heading into the final stretch. Smith has been one of the Dodgers’ most productive hitters. He owns a .296 batting average, 17 home runs, and a .901 OPS in 110 games. His 153 wRC+ ranks second on the Los Angeles baseball team, behind only Shohei Ohtani.

The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), reporting that Roberts confirmed Smith will not be activated for the Dodgers’ four-game

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