Dodgers Injury Update: Will Smith status, Tommy Edman nearing return, Brock Stewart

Despite the addition of two backup-backup(-backup) catchers to the major league roster since he went down, the Dodgers still have yet to make an official move with Will Smith, who took a foul ball in the hand on Sept. 3 against the Pirates and hasn't played since.

After Smith was diagnosed with a bone bruise, LA called up trade deadline acquisition Ben Rortvedt to be safe, but then they lost Dalton Rushing to a shin contusion just a few days later. They promoted 30-year-old minor league journeyman Chuckie Robinson to the 28-man roster as the corresponding move for Rushing's assignment to the 15-day IL, but Robinson was optioned back to Triple-A just a few days later without seeing playing time.

The lack of word on Smith was weird but promising; losing Rushing was bad, but losing Smith would be devastating.

On Monday night, ahead of the Dodgers' series opener against the Rockies, Dave Roberts said that Smith was available off the bench and could be back in the starting lineup on Tuesday. He didn't end up playing on Monday, during another spoiled no-hitter that the Dodgers actually managed to win this time, but fans can rest assured that he won't need an IL stint.

Dodgers Injury Updates: Will Smith could start Tuesday, Tommy Edman return Wednesday, Brock Stewart progress

The Dodgers have been without Tommy Edman for over a month now; he went onto the IL for the second time this season on Aug. 4 with a sprained ankle. He only spent the minimum amount of time on the IL and avoided a rehab assignment last time, but he didn't get quite as lucky on the second pass. He's been in Oklahoma City since Sept. 2, but Roberts said that fans could expect to see him reactivated on Wednesday, in time for the Dodgers' series finale against the Rockies.

Brock Stewart's absence since Aug. 12 and his move to the IL after pitching just 3 2/3 innings since coming over at the trade deadline was an indictment on Andrew Friedman's maneuvering, given all of the bullpen's struggles since then. Stewart was the lone major league reliever acquired at the end of July.

Per Roberts, he threw his first bullpen on Saturday and could face hitters by the end of the week. That could give him just enough time to sneak a rehab assignment in just under the wire, as the Triple-A season ends on Sept. 21. He might not be much help in the rest of the regular season, but it'll give the Dodgers a few more options for their postseason roster.