Dodgers considering Emmet Sheehan for playoff role after gem in win over Giants

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.

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