Emmet Sheehan’s next start will be in the minor leagues.
The right-hander might be out of sight, but that doesn’t mean he will be out of mind.
His scheduled start Saturday for triple-A Oklahoma City in a Pacific Coast League playoff game is part of a design to prepare him to pitch for the Dodgers in October.
Sheehan has pitched his way into consideration for a spot on the playoff roster.
His quote-unquote demotion came after he pitched 5 ⅓ scoreless innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ sweep-sealing 3–1 victory over the San Francisco Giants Sunday.
The game was the third Sheehan pitched this month for the Dodgers. His numbers in those three games: 17 innings pitched, one run allowed, 24 strikeouts, three walks.
“I’ve loved the version we’ve seen of Emmet the last three outings,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been fantastic.”
Sent down to Oklahoma City in early August, Sheehan returned to the major leagues earlier this month with a slightly modified arsenal that has significantly improved his results. He’s thrown his curveball more, and his increased inability to change speeds has made his fastball play up even when he’s not touching 97 mph with it.
“I think that obviously there’s a 97 that plays better, but 94–95 commanded still misses bats,” Roberts said. “So I think that’s something that, that’s one part of it. The other part of it is holding the velocity. And so, for me, the last three or four since he’s been back here, he’s held those 94s and 95s for the, call it, 85 pitches.”
With the Dodgers expecting to start Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal and Tyler Glasnow in the postseason, the team has started the process of moving Sheehan into a relief role by having Jack Dreyer pitch an inning as opener Sunday. Sheehan was down in triple-A over the last week but a roster spot for him was opened up because Skubal went on the bereavement list.
Sheehan entered the game in the second inning and pitched into the seventh. He gave up only one hit and one walk; he struck out nine.
He said he has made it a point to feel “free and easy” with his delivery.
“Instead of saying, ‘I need 97 [mph] here,’ it’s more like, ‘If I hit my spot, he’s not going to hit it,’” Sheehan said.
What it means
The teams with the two-best records in each league will earn a first-round bye and the Dodgers are close to wrapping up one of those spots. With their win over the Giants, the Dodgers maintained a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the National League’s No. 2 seed. Both teams have only six games remaining in the regular season.
Who’s hot
Left-hander Kris Bubic, who was acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline, replaced Sheehan in the seventh inning and registered the final two outs of the inning. Bubic struck out Scott Bandura, only for Shay Whitcomb to reach base on a throwing error by Max Muncy.
No problem: Bubic forced Grant McCray to fly out to left field.
Bubic has pitched 2 ⅔ innings in three appearances for the Dodgers over the last week, and he still hasn’t allowed a run. He has struck out four.
Roberts said he’s also pitched his way into consideration for a spot on the playoff roster.
“It’s nothing overpowering, but there’s just funky swings, soft contact,” Roberts said. “I see him as a neutral pitcher, gets left and right out, and I like those converted starters because he knows how to navigate lineups.”
Who’s Not
For today, this section should be renamed “Who Wasn’t Hot.”
The label certainly applied to Tommy Edman, who was two for his last 42 before his sixth-inning at-bat: That’s when Edman jumped on an inside cutter from Carson Seymour and launched it into the visiting bullpen behind the right-field wall.
Edman’s home run tied the game at 1–1.
Up next
The Dodgers have a day off Monday. They will resume play Tuesday when they host the San Diego Padres, who will send No. 1 starter Michael King (12-9, 3.03 ERA) to the mound. The Dodgers won’t have a traditional starter, as Roberts said the team is planning for a bullpen game.
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