PHILADELPHIA -- A little more than four weeks after sustaining a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, Will Smith is slowly but surely becoming a viable option to start games behind the plate for the Dodgers.

Smith made his first appearance this postseason on Saturday night, pinch-hitting for Ben Rortvedt in the top of the fifth inning and catching the remainder of the Dodgers' 5-3 comeback victory in Game 1 of the NL Division Series at Citizens Bank Park.

After taking a foul tip off his right hand on Sept. 3 , Smith played in only one more regular-season game, six days after sustaining what was initially believed to be a bone bruise. He maintained that he felt fine during that game, but the lingering discomfort in the days that followed eventually led to him ending the regular

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