Will Smith Welcomes 3rd Daughter Carter as Dodgers Face 2-0 NLCS Deficit

Q: Can a sleep-deprived Will Smith catch a must-win Game 3 and keep Los Angeles from a disastrous 3-0 NLCS deficit?

Yes — he can catch a must-win Game 3, but whether he can keep Los Angeles from a 3-0 hole will depend far more on his defense and the Dodgers’ bigger stars than on any “new dad” adrenaline. Smith is expected back behind the plate after the travel-day break, and there is no sign the Dodgers plan to limit his workload. Dave Roberts has publicly backed him, ruled out replacing him with Hunter Feduccia, and dropped him lower in the order to reduce pressure while keeping his value as Blake Snell’s catcher. That matters because Smith’s defensive work has remained trusted even during his offensive skid; he has caught every inning for Los Angeles this postseason. The bigger concern is not one night of likely sleep loss, but his bat. Smith has opened October in a severe slump, reported between 1-for-19 and 1-for-23, with eight strikeouts. Underlying numbers show he has been late on fastballs, exactly the kind of issue fatigue would not help. If the Dodgers need him to suddenly carry the offense, the odds are poor. But Los Angeles does not need Smith to be a hero as much as it needs him to be steady. If he handles Snell cleanly, controls the game plan, and chips in one quality plate appearance, that may be enough if Ohtani, Betts, Freeman and the rest finally produce. The Dodgers’ clearest path to avoiding disaster is ace-level work from Snell and a lineup-wide rebound, with Smith contributing more through game-calling than through headline offense.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 14

Cara Smith announced on Instagram that she and Dodgers catcher Will Smith welcomed their third daughter, Carter, on Wednesday before NLCS Game 3.
The birth came during the travel break between Games 2 and 3, giving Smith time to be with his family before returning to catch Blake Snell in Los Angeles.
Smith heads back with the Dodgers trailing Milwaukee 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after the Brewers’ 7-4 Game 2 win.
The timing also lands amid Smith’s slump: he is 1-for-19 this postseason with eight strikeouts, while Los Angeles has also gotten limited production from Shohei Ohtani.