The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Emmet Sheehan to Triple-A Oklahoma City and added Ryan Yarbrough to their active roster prior to Friday’s series opener against the San Diego Padres.
Yarbrough joins the Dodgers three days after being acquired from the Kansas City Royals. The Dodgers traded prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa to acquire the swingman.
Yarbrough went 4-5 with 4.24 ERA, 4.29 FIP and 1.19 WHIP over 14 games (seven starts) with the Royals this season. He moved into their rotation at the end of April and has gone 4-3 with a 3.08 ERA, 3.67 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in his seven starts.
Over parts of six seasons in the Majors, which has included time spent with the Tampa Bay Rays (2018-2022), the 31-year-old is a lifetime 44-36 with a 4.32 ERA in 141 games (66 starts).
Sheehan heads to the Minors one night after completing a four-inning save in his first relief appearance. By using Sheehan to piggyback Julio Urías, the Dodgers bullpen collectively received a night of rest heading into this weekend’s series against the Padres.
“Not all the time does our calculus work out, but this was sort of the hope coming into tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“You’re going to have Evan (Phillips) and Joe (Kelly) with four days off, Brusdar (Graterol) with two or three days, Fergy (Caleb Ferguson) with three days off. Our guys will be ready to go for that series.
“It’s a four-game series, a big series. Also, just to keep Emmet built up. He’s been a starter, so to have him built up if something unforeseen happens and we need length, we can still go to him.”
Prior to the relief appearance, the Dodgers’ prospect was 3-1 with a 5.77 ERA in seven starts.
Sheehan was promoted from Double-A Tulsa for his MLB debut on June 16. Thus, the 23-year-old will make his Triple-A debut whenever he pitches for Oklahoma City. Sheehan had earned a promotion to OKC but it was not made official before the Dodgers adjusted their plans to call up the right-hander.
What role will Ryan Yarbrough have with Dodgers?
Although Yarbrough’s success has come in the form of starters and the Dodgers now need someone to fill Sheehan’s turn in the rotation on Saturday, what role the left-hander is going to have hasn’t been decided.
“I think it’s a possibility,” answered Roberts when asked if Yarbrough would start for the Dodgers “But I also see him potentially piggybacking from an opener or in a regular game. I think the great thing about Ryan is he’s done all of it, and he’s certainly had some success.”
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