Dalton Rushing

Rushing has a partial UCL tear in his right elbow. He can continue hitting but will not throw for as long as four to six weeks, putting his ability to catch again this regular season in doubt. He was hitting .253/.335/.475 with 12 homers in 245 plate appearances.

Exited Monday's game in the first inning after taking a sharp foul tip directly off his face mask. Passed his initial concussion test but was described as 'a little groggy' by manager Dave Roberts, who said a Tuesday start was 'pretty unlikely.' The Dodgers already have Will Smith on the IL with neck inflammation, making Rushing the team's only viable catcher.

Rushing is the Dodgers' new everyday catcher as of this week. The Dodgers' lineup manufactures counting stats regardless of who's behind the plate, and Smith's 60-day IL makes this a three-week-plus hold, not a spot start. Add in all two-catcher formats immediately — 38% ownership is a gift given how fast this story moved.

The Dodgers backup catcher erupted for a four-hit, one-homer, four-RBI game on July 2 with Will Smith sidelined, and his underlying numbers (.263/.343 with 10 HR in 53 games) hold up when he gets consistent playing time. Smith's eventual return caps Rushing's ceiling, but a short-term add in any 14+ team league or NL-only format is justified right now. Multi-position eligibility (C/1B/OF) adds lineup flexibility.

7 HR in 27 AB is absurd — historic pace at catcher. Rushing is the breakout C of 2026 and trending toward a top-3 finish at the position. If he's somehow still on your wire, that's the add of the season.

The 2023 first-round Dodgers catching prospect continues to surface in dynasty-meets-redraft stash discussions with the Dodgers bullpen in crisis mode and the roster reshuffling around it. Rushing profiles as a power-first catcher who could be the Dodgers' long-term answer behind the plate. At 6% ownership, the risk is nothing and the dynasty upside is real.

A 2023 first-round Dodgers catching prospect, Rushing is surfacing in Razzball's Week 13 waiver article as a dynasty-meets-redraft stash. With the Dodgers' bullpen in full collapse (Diaz done for the year, Scott on IL), the club's roster flexibility is creating opportunities up and down the depth chart. Rushing profiles as a power-first catcher who could be the Dodgers' long-term answer behind the plate. At 6% ownership in standard leagues, the risk is nothing and the ceiling is real.