The Los Angeles Dodgers received a strong performance from Emmet Sheehan in their 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
The right-hander got through seven scoreless innings and held the Reds to just three baserunners (two hits, one walk). It was his longest outing of the season, topping a six-inning effort against the Colorado Rockies last week.
Sheehan finished with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts in his 10th game (eighth start) of the season. He last had 10 strikeouts against the Rockies on Sept. 27, 2023.
“Yeah, I think so,” Sheehan answered when asked if it is the best he has felt in terms of execution and stuff.
“We’ve been putting in some work the last couple weeks, and I think it didn’t really show on the first couple, but now it’s starting to show a little more with the execution.”
Sheehan believes he is finally starting to see some positive results after making a key change with help from the Dodgers coaching staff.
“Just executing consistently, throwing everything with conviction, instead of just trying to place it,” Sheehan said of what he has been working on.
“And that’s stuff Mark and Connor helped me a lot with, and the strength coaches have helped me a lot with too.”
Sheehan was able to get a lot of swing and misses on his slider, which kept the Reds off balance from his fastball.
“It’s been really important,” Sheehan said of his slider being an effective pitch. “I think that just keeps them off the fastball, which is usually my best pitch. So I think keeping that going is going to be big.”
In addition to his execution, Sheehan noted that pitch sequencing has played an important role in his ability to get swings and misses.
“Probably a little bit of both,” Sheehan said. “I think I’ve had to learn more about the sequencing side this year, just from the stuff not being where I want it to be.
“So having that combined with having a good stuff day today was probably a good combination.”
Dave Roberts praises Emmet Sheehan
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is happy to see Sheehan continuing to make strides on the mound and believes he can emerge as an important member of the starting rotation.
“Well, obviously we know what he can do,” Roberts said. “And tonight, he just put it all together. He really did.
“Getting strike one, the slider, the fastball had life to it, the changeup, dropped some curveballs in there. I thought Will did a fantastic job with him.
“And we needed length tonight. So that was really good to see, and it was good for him to get to that seventh inning and get close to that century mark. And so it’s growth for him. And like I said, just overall, couldn’t be more pleased.”
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