Dalton Rushing's return is no longer the saving grace Dodgers fans thought it'd be

The Dodgers' catching depth was decimated in all of two days earlier this month when Will Smith went down (but not onto the IL) with a bone bruise and Dalton Rushing quickly followed with a shin contusion.

Forgotten deadline acquisition Ben Rortvedt was initially called on as a precaution for Smith, but he found himself in the primary catcher spot when Rushing went onto the IL and Smith remained benched while the Dodgers kept an eye on his injury. Waiver claim Chuckie Robinson was called up and sent down twice to replace Rushing, but his first visit was nothing more than a phantom stint, and his second amounted to all of three days. Rushing, who had a quick recovery and brief rehab assignment, was reactivated on Tuesday.

Rushing will presumably move into the primary catcher role while the Dodgers wait on Smith, whose injury was totally mishandled, but is that actually the best thing for the team?

Rortvedt's introduction wasn't exactly favorably received, but he's since been the man behind the plate in three pretty astounding games — Yoshinobu Yamamoto's spoiled no-hitter, Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers' bullpen's spoiled no-hitter, and Shohei Ohtani's five no-hit innings on Tuesday against the Phillies.

Dodgers get catching depth back with Dalton Rushing's reactivation, but Ben Rortvedt's early success shouldn't be overlooked

Rortvedt hasn't been too shabby offensively either. He collected his first two RBI as a Dodger on Saturday against the Giants as part of what turned into a six-run rally for LA in the fifth. He's hitting .286 with a .732 OPS in 28 at-bats.

The Dodgers could decide to work with a true platoon of Rortvedt and Rushing while they wait on Smith. The team is hopeful that he'll be able to return as soon as his 10 days on the IL are up (Sept. 20), but Dave Roberts' latest update makes it sound like they're taking things one day at a time.

Rushing has struggled to find his footing in his first 46 games in the majors and was batting .200 with a .561 OPS in his last seven games before going onto the IL. Rortvedt, who no one expected anything out of when he was called up, has somehow become an anchor for the Dodgers' pitching staff.

The Dodgers might be better off letting Rortvedt continue to take the lead until Smith comes back. He is, after all, a five-year veteran while Rushing, though a former top prospect, is still in what feels like a trial period. He probably doesn't stand a chance of staying on the roster whenever Smith is eventually reactivated, but he's certainly had a mystifyingly successful first few games.