Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith welcomed his third daughter on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, as his team prepared to face the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers were down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series as it shifted to Los Angeles.
Smith’s wife, Cara, announced the arrival in an Instagram post, identifying the baby as Carter. The couple’s two older daughters, Charlotte and Layton, were also born in October, according to the source. Charlotte was born in 2022 and Layton in 2024.
The birth came during the day between Games 2 and 3, a break that allowed Smith time for travel and rest as the series changed cities. The source said he was scheduled to return to the lineup for the Wednesday game, catching Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell and batting seventh.
Los Angeles faced the risk of falling behind 3-0 with a loss. The source noted that the Dodgers had experience overcoming deficits against other teams, but said the team would not want to give Milwaukee a commanding lead in the series. The Brewers were described as having baseball’s best regular-season record that year.
Smith entered the game in a slump at the plate. He had recorded one hit in 19 postseason at-bats, with eight strikeouts and one walk, according to the report.
Shohei Ohtani was also struggling offensively. The report said he had been dealing with knee and arm injuries, while noting that Ohtani had said those issues did not excuse his hitting. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept Ohtani in the lineup, moving him to sixth in the batting order as designated hitter against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. Smith was set to bat immediately after him.
The game was an important point in the series, but the source’s account preceded its result. It provided no final score or update on the Dodgers’ position after Game 3.
