Will Smith, an All-Star catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has struggled through August, batting .158/.304/.228 with a double, home run and eight RBI in 17 games (16 starts). His workload has increased as the Dodgers enter the stretch run, with manager Dave Roberts managing Smith's rest to help him qualify for the National League batting title. Smith attributes the slump to mechanical issues and says he is working to clean them up while remaining confident. Roberts said playing time between Smith and Dalton Rushing will be decided nightly on a read-and-react basis. Rushing provided a go-ahead home run when given the opportunity.
"I think just mechanical things have crept in that I'm working on cleaning up," Smith explained. "It's baseball. There's highs and lows, so at some point there was going to be a slump or whatever you want to call it. "But not worried. Just continue to work, continue to do what I've always done, and dig my way out."
"That's a read and react. I think right now, I'm reacting," Roberts said of the plan for Smith going forward. "It makes sense."
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