Following 13 days during which the Dodgers played 11 games, and despite our extreme passion for the Dodgers and for the game of baseball itself, Monday’s scheduled day off was an absolute blessing for Dodgers fans and most certainly for the Dodgers themselves.

During those 11 games in 13 days, and even though two of them were played at Angel Stadium 31.7 miles down the I-5, the Dodgers went 4-4 during their just concluded eight-game (almost) home stand.

As every true Dodgers fan knows (and you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t), that final home game against the much-hated Houston Astros ended in a grueling 11-inning / three hour four-minute 6-5 Dodgers loss.

Following Monday’s much needed breather, the Dodgers open a six-game road trip, with three against the Colorado Rockies at mile-high Coors Field and three against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. They then return home for three against the Pittsburgh Pirates and two more against the Angels at The Ravine … and then they get a real breather for the All-Star break, with five full days off (except for the Dodgers All-Stars, of course).

As of this writing, the 2023 Dodgers All-Stars have yet to be announced, although in is pretty much a given that Dodgers ace and future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw, future Hall of Fame outfielder Mookie Betts and future Hall of Fame first baseman Freddie Freeman will be among them.

But what isn’t a given but absolutely should be is Dodgers catcher Will Smith with his current .291/.407/.518/.924 slash line. In fact, the 28-year-old Dodgers backstop should be the National League’s starting catcher – period.

In addition to currently having the second best batting average on the team at .292 (behind Freeman’s .317), the Louisville, KY native and Dodgers first round draft pick in 2016 has slugged 12 home runs and is currently leading the Dodgers with his .407 on-base percentage.

Come on Dodgers fans – vote for Will Smith once a day every day at MLB.com.

Play Ball!

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