Dodgers set to throw rookie returning from Tommy John straight into fire vs. Padres

The Dodgers welcomed Shohei Ohtani back to the mound on Monday and will do the same for another pitcher who hasn't appeared in the majors in almost two years. Emmet Sheehan underwent Tommy John in May last year but has made surprisingly quick progress back to fighting form. After a three-week rehab assignment, he'll be the Dodgers' starter (maybe opener) against the Padres on Wednesday.

Justin Wrobleski will reportedly take over for bulk innings behind Sheehan, so it stands to reason that Sheehan will only get a couple innings at most.

Still, the Dodgers are throwing Sheehan to the wolves. The Dodgers already have the upper hand in the series having taken their first two games against the Padres, so the worst they'll walk away with is a series split, but there's a strong potential for fireworks after multiple hit-by-pitches and a Dave Roberts ejection on Tuesday night.

It was also a bullpen day for the Dodgers, so they trotted out six different relievers in nine innings, and it was Tanner Scott's third time appearing is as many days. Both Sheehan and Wrobleski will need to give the rest of the bullpen a break. That's a lot to ask for from a guy who hasn't pitched since September 2023.

Emmet Sheehan to return from Tommy John, start for Dodgers on Wednesday vs. Padres

Sheehan initially looked like he could've been a candidate for the 2024 Opening Day roster before he went down with shoulder soreness in spring training and underwent Tommy John in May. His rehab assignment started in Rookie ball and ended in Triple-A, yielding mixed results. In his last time out for the Comets, he pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, including two homers, though he did strike out seven batters.

The Dodgers have Ohtani back, even if it's only for short appearances for now, and are working Ben Casparius up into a fully-fledged starting role, but they need all the help they can get. Sheehan's last major league start was a quality outing — six innings, two earned runs, 10 strikeouts — and the Dodgers will be hoping for more of that as he ramps up through the season.

Let's just hope he doesn't accidentally end up plunking a Padres hitter. With how eager these teams seem to brawl, that could be the last straw, and it wouldn't exactly be the best reintroduction Sheehan could get.