The Los Angeles Dodgers activated three key players from the injured list on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, welcoming back catcher Will Smith, catcher Dalton Rushing, and left-hander Justin Wrobleski ahead of a home series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled out a massive roster shuffle before Tuesday’s opening game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, injecting serious firepower back into a lineup tested by the dog days of summer. As Fox News reported, the NL West leaders activated catchers Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, and left-hander Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, while adding infielder Alex Freeland to the active roster.
To accommodate the returning cohort, the club optioned outfielder Alek Thomas and designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment. The cascade of transactions addresses critical depth concerns just as September’s playoff push takes shape.
Will Smith Returns From Three-Month Absence Due to Neck Injury
The centerpiece of Tuesday’s moves is the return of Smith, who had not played since June 5 after suffering disc inflammation in his neck. Initially expected to miss only a single game when he was scratched ahead of a June series, the All-Star endured multiple setbacks that sidelined him for nearly three months.
Smith tuned up with a five-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 4-for-16 with a home run. Before the injury, Smith batted .249/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .720 OPS across 52 games. True Blue LA noted that the right-handed group of hitters struggled during Smith’s absence, making his return to the middle of the order vital for balancing an offense that ranks second in baseball with a 120 wRC+ among left-handed hitters but drops to an even 100 when it comes to right-handed batters.
Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski Provide Reinforcements
Joining Smith on the active roster are Rushing and Wrobleski, each bringing distinct utility for the stretch run. Rushing missed a month after suffering a partial UCL tear in his throwing elbow on deadline day. According to Yahoo Sports, Rushing returns without a rehab stint and is not currently cleared to throw, meaning he may not catch again this season. Even so, his bat provides a potent left-handed option off the bench.
Wrobleski returns after a two-week absence due to forearm inflammation. The left-hander earned All-Star honors in his third MLB season after a dominant first half, though a subsequent slide pushed his overall stats to a 3.56 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 126 1/3 innings. Yahoo Sports reported that manager Dave Roberts plans to deploy Wrobleski at the end of the rotation before transitioning him to the bullpen for the playoffs.
Ben Rortvedt Designated for Assignment Amid Roster Squeeze
The return of Smith and Rushing altered the team’s catching depth chart. Heavy.com noted that Rortvedt, acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, recorded just five hits in 27 at-bats for Los Angeles, producing a .370 OPS across 16 games.
MLBTRA’s reporting indicates the Dodgers placed Rortvedt on waivers, hoping he will clear and accept an assignment back to Triple-A Oklahoma City as organizational depth. Hunter Feduccia, who also arrived at the trade deadline, retains the backup catching role behind Smith after outproducing Rortvedt offensively.
National League Standing and Postseason Outlook
With the flurry of transactions, the Dodgers sit at 82-55, holding a 9.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West. Fox News data shows Los Angeles holding the No. 2 seed in the National League, half a game ahead of the Atlanta Braves (82-56) for the second wild-card round bye and 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) for the best record in the league.
As Fox News points out, the team is also eyeing potential returns from Blake Snell, who is four starts back from elbow surgery, and Tyler Glasnow, who returned last week following a 15-week absence due to back spasms, alongside two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
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