Los Angeles Dodgers Face Challenges in NLCS as Will Smith Welcomes Third Child

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a tough spot, down 2-0 in the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. As the series moves to the West Coast, the team’s stars know they must deliver peak performances.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith has significant personal news this week. His wife, Cara Smith, gave birth to their third child, a daughter named Carter, on Wednesday. Cara shared the joyful news on Instagram, noting all three of their children were born in October. Charlotte, the couple’s first daughter, arrived in 2022, and Layton in October 2024 when the Dodgers claimed the World Series title.

The Dodgers hope Carter’s birth aligns with another successful season. Currently trailing behind the Brewers, who boast the best record in baseball, they face an uphill battle. With a short break between Games 2 and 3, Smith might find a moment to relax as the series travels across the country.

Smith will soon return to the field as the Dodgers’ catcher, partnering with pitcher Blake Snell in what seems a crucial game to keep championship hopes alive. Despite the urgency, the Dodgers know all too well the peril of facing a 3-0 series deficit in a seven-game matchup.

Smith hopes Carter’s arrival might bring some personal momentum. Struggling at the plate, he has only one hit this postseason, marked by eight strikeouts and a single walk over 19 at-bats. He’s not the sole player facing difficulties. Shohei Ohtani, battling knee and arm injuries, acknowledged his poor performance but doesn’t view it as an excuse. Despite this, manager Dave Roberts keeps him in the lineup as a designated hitter for the Brewers’ left-hander, Robert Gasser.

Ohtani will bat sixth, while Smith takes the seventh spot, continuing his catching duties in an important series game.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital, reporting updates on the Dodgers’ progress.