Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Emmet Sheehan sent a message to the team ahead of the postseason with his role on the team still uncertain.
Sheehan went to the minors at the beginning of August following the arrival of Tarik Skubal and a string of poor results on his part. Prior to his stint in the minors, Sheehan had a 5.29 ERA and had just allowed five earned runs in just 2.2 innings pitched.
He managed to get right in the minors, though, allowing just three earned runs over the course of 18 innings pitched in Triple-A. He returned in the middle of September, and has three starts under his belt since returning.
In those appearances, Sheehan has a 0.53 ERA over the course of 17 innings pitched, striking out 24 batters. He pitched Sunday , striking out nine batters through 5.1 scoreless innings of relief, during which he only allowed one hit and one walk . On the year, Sheehan now has a 4.57 ERA through 112.1 innings pitched, striking out 132 batters during his time in MLB.
The Dodgers are optioning him back to Triple-A to keep their bullpen fresh throughout the remainder of the season as they look to secure the No. 2 seed in the NL, but he can still feature in the postseason and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.
"I feel like I'm in a much better spot now," Sheehan told Dodgers Nation's Noel Sanchez and reporters. "Whatever role they want me to do going forward, I'm ready to do it. It was nice to get that experience coming out of the pen, and I'm ready to go."
Sheehan has predominantly played as a starter for the Dodgers this season, making his first relief appearance of the year on Sunday, but would almost definitely stay in the bullpen if he makes the roster come October.
The Dodgers have a four-man rotation planned out already, as Blake Snell , Tyler Glasnow , Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Skubal are all healthy and likely to be the Dodgers' starters during the postseason.
Sheehan would fit in the bullpen as a long relief arm, and would likely be the Dodgers' go-to man in those scenarios.
Landon Knack and Bobby Miller have taken on those responsibilities as of late, but Sheehan's recent results should qualify him for a spot over both Knack and Miller.
Jul 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) and catcher Eliézer Alfonzo (64) walk off the field at the end of the second inning at Dodger Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Dodgers are allowed a maximum of 13 pitchers on their roster for the postseason, and Sheehan will almost certainly be included in those options due to his ability to pitch out of the bullpen.
Sheehan came out of the bullpen for the Dodgers during last year's postseason, and while he wasn't the most effective in that role, his recent surge and experience in that area will be key for LA as they look to win a third consecutive World Series.
The right-hander won't pitch again for the Dodgers in the regular season due to the minimum 15-day stay in the minors, so unless the Dodgers need to recall him due to an injury, he'll hope the impression he made during his strong September is enough to warrant a spot on the postseason roster.
