Dodgers Close 9-Game Trip With Sheehan Facing Mets at Citi Field

Q: With Blake Snell returning soon, is Emmet Sheehan pitching to save his spot in the Dodgers' rotation against the Mets?

Yes — not in a one-start, make-or-break sense, but Emmet Sheehan is effectively pitching for his place in the Dodgers’ rotation as Blake Snell nears a return. The timing makes that clear. Recent Dodgers coverage has identified Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski as the pitchers most likely to be affected once Snell is activated, and manager Dave Roberts has said that when the staff gets healthier, “everything is going to be on the table.” Sheehan’s uneven results strengthen that pressure. He is coming off a rough outing against Philadelphia in which he allowed six earned runs in 5.1 innings, and his season ERA has hovered a little above 5.00. At the same time, this is not simply a referendum on Sunday against the Mets. Roberts has continued to back Sheehan because the Dodgers have lacked healthier, better alternatives, and the club has valued his upside. His swing-and-miss ability remains real, and he has shown flashes, including a stronger recent outing against San Diego. Earlier reporting also stressed that neither Sheehan nor other young starters had been in immediate danger because the Dodgers wanted to preserve their six-man setup and were waiting on reinforcements. What changes now is the roster math. Snell is getting close enough that performance matters more. If Sheehan continues to be inconsistent, he could be moved out of the rotation, shifted to the bullpen, or optioned. So Sunday matters, but more as part of a larger evaluation than as a final audition.

3 articles · Updated · True Blue LA · Jul 26

Sunday’s finale ends Los Angeles’ nine-game road trip, with Emmet Sheehan starting at Citi Field as the Dodgers try to finish off the Mets.
Sheehan enters after allowing 6 runs to Philadelphia on Monday, one more than he gave up across his previous three outings combined.
Freddy Peralta is also coming off a rough start, surrendering 7 runs in a loss to Milwaukee, setting up a matchup of two pitchers seeking a rebound.
Among 117 MLB pitchers with at least 80 innings, Sheehan ranks 103rd in ERA at 5.13 and Peralta 99th at 5.01, though their xERAs—3.89 and 3.86—suggest better underlying performance.