Dalton Rushing just got placed on the injured list with a UCL tear in his throwing arm, a crushing blow that leaves his status as a Dodgers catcher completely up in the air for the rest of the season. This isn’t a minor setback, folks. Manager Dave Roberts revealed the severity on Tuesday, confirming what many fans feared. Rushing won’t even throw for a few weeks, all hoping he can somehow dodge surgery. It’s an absolute gut punch to a team already navigating a rough season for their catching corps.
Dodgers’ Catching Carousel Takes Another Wild Turn
This Rushing news hits hard because their usual starting catcher, Will Smith, has been out since June 5 with an inflamed disk in his neck. He still needs up to a month of prep before he can even think about returning. Rushing had stepped up huge since early June, taking over the everyday role behind the plate. He was productive, too, batting .253/.335/.475 overall, even though his power had dipped a bit recently, slugging .439 since becoming the primary option. Now, with both top guys sidelined, the Dodgers are truly in crisis mode. They did make some moves at the trade deadline, bringing in Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia, but can these guys really fill the void? Rortvedt, who spent the season in Triple-A, made his 2026 big-league debut on Tuesday, carrying a career .547 OPS in the majors. Feduccia, acquired from the Rays, hit .234/.306/.340 in 60 games for Tampa Bay this summer. These two absolutely have to step up immediately, because the depth is suddenly super thin.
Injuries Mount For Pitchers While A Veteran Slugger Is Cut Loose
It’s not just the Dodgers facing major health headaches. Over in Cincinnati, the Reds have put Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list with right elbow soreness, bringing back a familiar, frustrating story for the former No. 2 overall pick. Greene has been battling injuries all season long, starting 2026 on the 60-day IL after having elbow surgery. Since signing with Cincinnati in 2022, he hasn’t been able to complete more than 26 starts in any season. This year’s numbers weren’t pretty either: five starts, a 6.83 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP. Luis Mey is getting the call-up from Triple-A Louisville to try and fill that rotation spot. You gotta feel for Greene, but the Reds need someone who can stay on the mound.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to cut bait with veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, per ESPN. Ozuna, a two-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star, signed a one-year, $12 million deal back in February, so this release is a shocker. He totaled eight homers and 29 RBIs through 70 games this season, but his slash line was a rough .203/.286/.327. At 35 years old, the deal simply didn’t pan out. Pittsburgh is sitting at 57-58 and 3.5 games back from the third National League wild-card seed, so they’re clearly trying to shake things up. On a more positive note, the Cleveland Guardians are calling up infielder Angel Genao, their No. 2 prospect and the No. 39 overall in MLB, per MLB Pipeline. That’s some exciting news for their fans, a real shot in the arm for the big-league club!
What a wild week around the league! The Dodgers are scrambling behind the plate, the Reds are hoping for some health and consistency in their rotation, and the Pirates are trying to spark some life after shedding a big contract. We’ll be watching to see if Rortvedt and Feduccia can shock everyone and stabilize the Dodgers’ catching, or if Mey can step up for the Reds. And hey, keep an eye on Angel Genao as he makes his big-league splash for the Guardians. This season got a whole lot more interesting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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