Story perspectives

Dodgers move Will Smith to No. 5 for Game 2

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 11:28 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shifted catcher Will Smith to the No. 5 spot for Game 2 of the NLCS.
Will Smith entered the playoffs with a 1-for-19 line and seven strikeouts.
The Dodgers lost Game 1 to Milwaukee 2–1, and Smith went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 against Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson.
Teoscar Hernández moved up to the third spot, batting behind Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

History

Historical Context

After a 98-64 regular season, Boston manager Terry Francona placed David Ortiz in the cleanup spot for the 2004 ALCS, where his .400 average and three homers helped the Red Sox become the first team to overturn a 3-0 deficit and end the 86-year “Curse of the Bambino.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts uses the shift, moving Will Smith and promoting Teoscar Hernández in NLCS.

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Story summary

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shifted catcher Will Smith to the No. 5 spot for Game 2 of the NLCS.
Will Smith entered the playoffs with a 1-for-19 line and seven strikeouts.
The Dodgers lost Game 1 to Milwaukee 2–1, and Smith went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 against Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson.
Teoscar Hernández moved up to the third spot, batting behind Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

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