Dodgers’ renewed faith in Emmet Sheehan might be enough to save him this offseason

If you were to look up the definition of inconsistent in the dictionary, you might just find a picture of Emmet Sheehan. With great stuff and the ability to put away hitters with ease, he has all of the makings of an elite pitcher.

But the truth is, it is tough to tell what kind of pitcher he truly is going from game to game. Yet to their credit, the Los Angeles Dodgers have never fully given up on him. And after Sheehan's latest dazzling performance, they might be rewarded for keeping their faith in him. 

In his September 7 start against the Cincinnati Reds, Sheehan tied his season-high mark of 10 strikeouts across 5.2 innings. He allowed just one run on three hits while guiding the Dodgers to their 89th win on the season.

It was the type of performance that you'd actually expect from a pitcher with Sheehan’s stuff. But throughout the 2026 season, he has struggled mightily with his ability to hone in his efficiency and his effectiveness. 

But after his great start, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quickly confirmed that Sheehan would make his next scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on September 13. As the Dodgers gear up for another postseason run, they will need Sheehan to find that level of consistency that could take him to the next level.

With Shohei Ohtani unable to pitch, the rest of the pitching staff will have to step up to fill the void he leaves behind. This will give Sheehan a chance to state his case to remain on the team moving forward.

Emmet Sheehan has plenty left in the tank to show the Dodgers 

The little vote of confidence from Roberts might just do wonders for a pitcher that has struggled with trusting his ability of the years. It might also help keep Sheehan in a Dodgers uniform beyond this season. The 26-year-old had been rumored to be included in trade packages for Tarik Skubal for months before the team acquired the ace. 

Sheehan has actually been at the center of trade rumors for some time. The Dodgers might have other plans for Sheehan though. They have seen what he is capable of before. They just need more of it.

Since making his MLB debut in 2023, Sheehan has been frustratingly close to putting it all together and becoming a top-flight pitcher in the big leagues. He just hasn’t thrown enough innings yet. With 234.2 innings pitched through 49 career appearances, Sheehan has only scratched the surface of his career.   

After undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of the 2024 season, Sheehan lost a crucial year of development. But even with that lost time, he bounced back in a big way last season. He sported a 2.93 FIP in 73.1 innings while surrendering just 49 hits. The Dodgers saw that performance and they envisioned a key middle of the rotation arm for years to come.

Unfortunately, that vision hasn't quite taken shape yet. While 2026 has been a cruel lesson in regression for Sheehan, his strikeout per nine innings pitched of 10.5 remains above his career average. Although he is also allowing a dreadful 8.6 hits per nine, he has continued to get hitters to swing and miss at an impressive clip. His 31.4% whiff rate puts him in an elite class. There are plenty of signs that signal endless potential for Sheehan.

There are also a few warning signs. Many have already pointed to the substantial drop in Sheehan’s average fastball velocity, and this could be something to monitor heading into 2027. Sheehan’s average fastball has dropped from 95.6 mph in 2025 to 94.4 mph this season, which could make the club a bit nervous. We’ll just have to wait and see if this issue can be fixed with a slight mechanical adjustment.  

Regardless of how disappointing his season has been so far, Sheehan now has a tremendous outing to build off of. With three potential starts left in the season, he has the ability to erase any doubts about his future with the Dodgers. Who knows, if he pitches well enough, he may even force himself onto the Dodgers’ postseason roster as a dangerous weapon out of the bullpen.    

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow