CINCINNATI — At this point on the baseball calendar, every action prompts an unequal reaction – whether it’s appropriate or not.
After asking Will Smith to play the final three innings of Sunday’s game in Boston, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told him he would now be off on Monday. The idea was to get a more favorable matchup for backup catcher Dalton Rushing, still get Smith in the lineup for two of the three games in Cincinnati and give Rushing a chance to gain some offensive rhythm.
But back-to-back starts for Rushing set off alarm bells on social media where ‘hug watch’ has become an annual trade deadline game of overreaction.
Roberts said he has talked with young players at times in the past about seeing their name in trade speculation as the deadline nears. But he hasn’t felt that necessary with Rushing, whose name has only been mentioned in unsourced rumors.
“I haven’t talked to Dalton,” Roberts said. “I just don’t see a world in which he’s moved anyway, and I think he’s smart enough to realize that. I don’t think it’s going to impact him. I really don’t.”
What has impacted Rushing is the sporadic nature of his playing time since being promoted from Triple-A in mid-May. Monday was his 22nd start since then and he has a .200 average with 36 strikeouts in 80 at-bats. His frustration spilled out Sunday when he slammed his bat to the ground after one fruitless at-bat.
“Yeah, I think so,” Roberts acknowledged. “Like I’ve said many times over, the main thing that he needs to do – which I think he’s doing a fantastic job – is his job behind the plate. But he’s so used to performing offensively which he hasn’t been able to do to this point. Playing time has been spotty to this point so it’s been an adjustment. That doesn’t mean that he’s going to expect less of himself. So the frustration – I get it. I understand it.”
Rushing acknowledged that frustration, saying he’s trying to take to heart daily affirmations from the Dodgers’ coaching and front office staff.
“I get told every day – they know I can hit. They’re not worried about that for the long term,” Rushing said after going 0 for 3 with two more strikeouts Monday. “I tell myself that every day. Obviously, it’s tough not doing the things that you’re capable of in the box. Not having success, I guess you could say, it’s – trust me, it’s very frustrating.”
MUNCY REHAB
After spending a few days at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona, Muncy joined Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and will start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday. Muncy is expected to play third base and take three at-bats.
Roberts said he wasn’t sure how long Muncy’s time with OKC will be. There is only “a slim chance” that he rejoins the Dodgers this week, before the end of their three-city road trip.
“The main thing for us, even where we’re at as an offensive unit, is to make sure he gets back and does the whole process of the rehab,” Roberts said. “And not try to cut that short because of where we’re at. So, I mean, it’s a possibility (that he joins the Dodgers this week if) things go really well, but for me, it’s still unlikely.”
Muncy suffered a bone bruise in his left knee on July 2. At the time, the Dodgers were 55-32, averaging 5.6 runs per game and batting .262 as a team. In the first 19 games without Muncy, a team-wide slump intensified. The Dodgers went 6-13, averaged 3.6 runs per game and hit .220 as a team.
STATUS NO
Roberts said there is nothing to update about the status of injured utility man Kiké Hernandez or right-hander Tony Gonsolin.
Hernandez has been out with a sprained left elbow but has not been able to start baseball activities, Roberts said, and has had “a couple little (non-surgical) procedures … just trying to move things along.”
“He’s frustrated,” Roberts said. “I don’t have a timeline but expect him to be back this year.”
The same cannot be said for Gonsolin. The right-hander returned from Tommy John surgery and made seven starts, going 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA before experiencing pain in his elbow after his June 4 start.
An MRI showed his ulnar collateral ligament was intact but Roberts said he hasn’t heard anything about Gonsolin making progress toward a return. That does not bode well for a return this season.
“You look at the buildup, potential, where we’re at on the calendar, certainly doesn’t look promising, but I don’t know where he’s at,” Roberts said.
DRAFT NEWS
The Dodgers signed 17 of their first 18 picks in this month’s draft before Monday’s deadline, including their top two picks – left-hander Zach Root (40th overall) and outfielder Charles Davalan (41st). Sixth-round pick Mason Ligenza, an outfielder from Pennsylvania, has chosen to go to the University of Pittsburgh instead of signing a pro contract.
The Dodgers did sign their 17th-round pick, right-hander Sam Horn from the University of Missouri. Horn signed for an over-slot $497,500 bonus – and now will return to Missouri to compete for the starting quarterback job on the football team.
Horn played briefly for the Tigers in 2023, completing three of eight passes then missed all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. He has pitched a total of just 15 innings in his three college baseball seasons.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 1-1, 2.75 ERA) at Reds (LHP Nick Lodolo, 8-6, 3.08 ERA), Monday, 4:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM