Having relied on a six-man starting rotation through most of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have long been expected to bump Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan out of that group for the playoffs.
It’s a possibility, if not reality, that Kershaw has acknowledged multiple times of late and it’s played a part in the left-hander expressing a willingness to pitch out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, Sheehan shifting into a relief role has largely been considered a foregone conclusion.
Sheehan made his final start of the regular season on Friday night but threw just 22 pitches in one inning of work.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sheehan is going to pitch of the bullpen during the playoffs but not do multiple innings, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“He’ll come out of the ‘pen, he’ll be ready to go Tuesday for whatever is asked of him. … It wouldn’t be multi-inning. I don’t see that. But again, I don’t know if it’s a right, versus left.”
The Dodgers had hoped Sheehan would manage to complete two innings while on a limit of 25 pitches in the series opener at T-Mobile Park.
Although Sheehan is built up to provide multiple innings as a long man out of the bullpen in the postseason, the Dodgers face a greater need for an effective righty who can pitch in leverage.
Brock Stewart’s comeback attempt is over amid needing shoulder surgery, Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates both are on the 15-day injured list, Evan Phillips previously was ruled out after having Tommy John, and Brusdar Graterol might only become a candidate to return if the Dodgers make a run deep into October.
That’s all been compounded by Blake Treinen falling short of expectations.
Dodgers trust Emmet Sheehan in high leverage
Sheehan is still early into his career and back for his first season since Tommy John surgery, but he’s already garnered plenty of trust.
Despite Sheehan only making six relief appearances in 28 career games with the Dodgers, Roberts made it clear he would not hesitate relying on the 25-year-old in a late-game scenario.
“I’m not concerned about Emmet,” Roberts recently said of that possibility.
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