Emmet Sheehan just wrapped up another absolutely lights-out performance against the San Francisco Giants, fanning nine batters in 5 1/3 innings while only giving up a single hit and a walk. We’re talking about a serious late-season hot streak here, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t shy about it, saying he’s “loved the version of Emmet we’ve seen the last three outings.” Honestly, who wouldn’t? The dude has been fantastic.
From the Minors and Back: Sheehan’s Epic Turnaround
Think about where Sheehan was just a couple of months ago. He started the season in the Dodgers’ rotation from opening day, but things hit a wall on August 2nd. He got shelled by the Boston Red Sox, giving up three homers and five runs. After 20 starts, his ERA was sitting at a rough 5.29, and his velocity was just not holding up. The very next day, he was optioned to Oklahoma City. Talk about a wake-up call, right? But this isn’t a story of failure, it’s a story of grinding. Sheehan wasn’t helping the team, and he knew it. He himself said, “I don’t know if I proved anything to myself. It was more just getting a couple of things right, and I’m in a much better spot now.” That time in Triple-A was exactly what he needed, and he dominated. After one planned short outing, he struck out 24 hitters and allowed just one run in 17 1/3 innings over three starts, earning himself Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week and Month honors for August. That’s pure fire!
The Curveball That Changed Everything (Almost)
So, what’s the secret sauce? Sheehan says his confidence stayed the same, knowing the coaches would get him right. But Roberts sees something more: “urgency” and “fighting for your life.” And the numbers back it up: he’s trusting his stuff and physically in a good spot. One key tweak has been his curveball. In his last three outings with the Dodgers, he’s throwing it 21.9 percent of the time, way up from his season average of 12.3 percent. He’s been working with assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness and pitching coach Mark Prior on “expanding the front-to-back game with the fastball and the curveball.” Sheehan noted that hitters were starting to sit on his mid-speed stuff, like his slider and changeup. Having that change of speeds is clutch, and it clearly worked against San Francisco, where 15 of his 18 swinging strikes came off his fastball and curveball. It’s clear the guy found his groove.
Sheehan’s late-season surge is exactly what the Dodgers need as the calendar flips. With Roberts saying his performance has been “fantastic” and a renewed urgency in his game, Sheehan looks set to continue making a huge impact. What’s next? More of the same hopefully, because this version of Emmet Sheehan is must-watch baseball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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