Dalton

Rushing

It’s a standard off day for the catcher with a day game after a night game. Dalton Rushing will catch for the Dodgers and hit seventh. After a torrid start to the season, Rushing is just five for his last 24 with no home runs in the last two weeks.

As expected, Ohtani will pitch exclusively against the Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday night with rookie Dalton Rushing occupying the DH spot and leading off. The 31-year-old two-way sensation is out of the lineup while pitching for the third time in recent weeks. The positive news here is that he appears to be fully healthy and the decision isn’t injury-related.

It’s a standard day off for a catcher with a day game after a night game. Dalton Rushing will start at catcher and bat sixth. After a homer barrage to start the season, Rushing has gone 3-for-21 with three runs and three RBI over his last six games.

As expected, Ohtani will pitch exclusively on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium. Dalton Rushing is at DH and will occupy the leadoff spot in his absence. The 31-year-old two-way superstar’s workload is being monitored closely during the early stages of the season to avoid putting too much strain on him from a physical standpoint. He should be back in the lineup for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale.

It looks like this might become a thing, which would take a significant toll on Ohtani’s value as a hitter, even if he’s never been as productive at the plate on days that he pitches. The Dodgers didn’t announce who would DH in his place, but we imagine they’ll take the opportunity to have both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing in the lineup.

Smith is back handling the catching duties and hitting third on Monday night at Dodger Stadium following a two-game absence due to back tightness. The 31-year-old backstop is off to a nice start at the dish this season, slashing .266/.337/.392 with three homers and 14 RBI across 24 games. Dalton Rushing retreats to the bench after starting three of the last four contests behind the plate.

Rushing poked a single to right to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0. The 25-year-old backstop caught again with Will Smith dealing with tightness in his back, and he’s likely made it easier for Los Angeles to rest Smith while he’s not at his best. Rushing has driven in 16 runs with a slash of .385/.455/.974. The Dodgers are going to have to find a way to keep his bat in the lineup as long as this keeps going.

The Dodgers had been hopeful that Smith would be able to return on Sunday, so this is at least mildly concerning. Dalton Rushing will once again start in his place behind the plate and will bat seventh against Cubs’ southpaw Shota Imanaga.

Smith will get a breather while dealing with manager Dave Roberts saying that the backstop is “feeling a little tight.” The good news is that it appears this is just precautionary, and Roberts expects Smith to catch tomorrow. Dalton Rushing will try and keep hitting nothing but homers and hit sixth in Smith’s absence.

Dalton Rushing has now started two of the last three games at catcher, and Smith has missed three of the last six games as Rushing tears the cover off the ball. It’s not ideal for either’s mixed league value, but it looks like Rushing has been given a little more of a foothold than he’d had earlier in April as the Dodgers try to get him involved.