Dodgers Get a Pair of Key Injury Updates Ahead of Wild-Card Matchup vs. Reds

The Dodgers are gearing up for a title defense, slated to take on the Reds in MLB’s National League Wild Card. With the series is set to get underway on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the team got some injury news on a pair of key players on Monday.
Max Muncy spoke to reporters and informed them that he’d be available for L.A. on Tuesday. Muncy had missed a chunk of the season with an oblique strain, but returned from the IL on Sept. 8. He’s since been hit by multiple pitches, all against the Giants, and ended up missing the final few games of the season while dealing with a bruise on his leg. Fortunately, he appears to be good to go for Tuesday’s playoff opener.
The other update the team received was to do with catcher Will Smith. The 30-year-old hasn’t played since Sept. 9 and is dealing with a fracture in his right hand. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Smith is expected to swing a bat Monday and could face live pitching Monday evening, if swinging feels okay. His status for the series remains uncertain.
The Dodgers finished the 2025 season as the No. 3 seed in the National League, and winners of the NL West. They’re looking to become the first team since the 1998-2000 Yankees to win consecutive World Series titles, and having stars such as Muncy and Smith available will be critical towards achieving that goal.
First pitch for Tuesday’s game in L.A. is slated for 9:00 p.m. ET.