Dodgers Pitchers Face Weather, Wobbly Starts
Dodgers vs. Yankees: A Weather‑Delayed Show
The game between the Dodgers and the Yankees was pushed back because of bad weather, so fans had to wait for a later date.
In the meantime, Dodgers’ pitchers are juggling their roles. Emmet Sheehan is set to pitch again on Saturday, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound on Sunday. The team has not yet decided when Shohei Ohtani will return to the starting lineup, so they are planning for Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer to open the next week’s series against Philadelphia.
Sheehan began strong, keeping the score tied after four innings. However, his defense let him down and he surrendered two runs in the fifth inning and another in the sixth. His fastball speed slipped from an average of 95.6 mph early on to 93.8 mph and then 92.8 mph as the game went on, which is typical for him when he pitches longer outings. Because of this decline, some think he should move to the bullpen once other starters return, but for now he will stay in the rotation.
The pitcher struck out five batters and walked three, keeping his ERA down to 4.91 after two starts against San Diego. He often follows Yamamoto in the lineup, giving his bullpen a rest period. Next Sunday he may start against the Diamondbacks, which could mean a quick turnaround for him.
Sheehan’s recent three starts have shown a 10.24 ERA, but his performance today was still solid: only two hits and two walks allowed. His record now stands at 4‑5 with a 5.08 ERA, and he is scheduled to face the Padres again next weekend. While his command was shaky—four strikeouts and three walks, a 57% strike rate—he didn’t show any velocity issues, holding his four‑seam fastball at 94.5 mph.
After a tough sixth inning where he couldn’t record an out and gave up three runs, including a solo homer by Sam Antonacci, the right‑hander will aim to avoid another big inning when he pitches against the Orioles on Sunday. His outing was marred by a walk and two‑run single, but he still limited damage to his ERA.
Sheehan was able to keep the ball in play through five scoreless innings before homers from Nolan Arenado and Tommy Troy took him out of the game. His fastball speed remained steady, averaging 95.9 mph in the sixth and 95.4 mph in the seventh, matching his overall season average. He has allowed one or two runs in most of his recent starts, and his ERA sits at 4.50 for the season.
An injury to his pitching arm from a comebacker in the fourth didn’t stop him; he finished six innings, marking his fourth such outing this season. He will be a solid option for next week’s road trip to Arizona and the home game against the Angels.
