Smith was scratched from the lineup Wednesday for the Dodgers' Cactus League game against the Mariners due to low-back tightness, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith should be fine to play a week from now, when the Dodgers take on the Padres for the first of two games in Seoul, South Korea to kick off their regular season. The Dodgers felt no need to push Smith to play in their final Cactus League game, so Austin Barnes will handle catching duties Wednesday.

Smith told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic this week that he and his representation have not had any contract extension talks with the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Smith is set to earn $8.55 million in 2024 and will be arbitration eligible once more in 2025 before reaching free agency. It's not clear whether the team intends to eventually engage with Smith regarding a long-term deal, but at the moment it doesn't seem to be a priority. The Dodgers do have Dalton Rushing, Diego Cartaya and Thayron Liranzo in the minors, but Cartaya is coming off a disappointing season and Rushing and Liranzo might not be ready to take over after 2025.

Smith signed a one-year, $8.6 million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith is in the second year of arbitration eligibility and will earn $3.3 million more than he did in 2023. He posted a career-low .797 OPS across 554 plate appearances last season, though he's still an above-average producer at catcher.

Smith will be on the bench Saturday against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Smith sits for the second time in three days, with the Dodgers seemingly prioritizing rest in the final week of the regular season. He's one homer shy of his third straight 20-homer campaign but will have to wait until the final game of the season to try for it, unless he appears as a pinch hitter Saturday. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate in Smith's absence, catching for Clayton Kershaw.

Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a hit-by-pitch and an additional run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Smith got the scoring started with his first-inning blast. The catcher has struggled a bit lately, going just 5-for-36 (.139) over his last 10 games, though he's still managed five RBI in that span. For the season, he's posted a .259/.357/.437 slash line with 19 long balls, 76 RBI, 79 runs scored, three stolen bases, 21 doubles and two triples over 125 games.

Smith is out of the lineup Thursday at Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

Austin Barnes will start behind the plate and bat ninth in the Dodgers' series finale against the Rockies. Smith had caught two straight games while going 1-for-8 with two RBI.

Smith is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

Smith will presumably catch in the nightcap after Austin Barnes starts behind the plate and bats ninth in the early tilt at Coors Field. Smith is sitting on a .796 OPS with 18 homers and 72 RBI through 122 games this season.

Smith will sit Saturday against the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers have gone with a pattern of two starts for Smith followed by one start for Austin Barnes for most of the last month. If the pattern continues, we'll see Smith start Sunday and then four more times over the final week. The Dodgers are all but locked into the second seed in the National League, however, trailing Atlanta by 4.5 games while leading Milwaukee by 6.5, which could result in additional off days for the team's regulars over the final week.

Smith is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

This appears to be a routine day of rest for Smith, who started behind the plate in the first two games of the Dodgers' three-game set versus Detroit. Austin Barnes will catch and bat ninth in Wednesday's series finale.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Seattle.

EDGE Analysis

Smith will receive Sunday off after Los Angeles clinched the NL West title Saturday. Austin Barnes will work behind the plate and bat ninth.