Dodgers Set to Receive Major Rotation Boost After Injury News

Sheehan made his major league debut in 2023 and headlined the Dodgers’ next wave of young pitching alongside Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. Unlike the latter two, Sheehan never pitched an inning at Triple-A Oklahoma and jumped from Double-A straight to the MLB. 

In his rookie season, Sheehan appeared in 13 games, including 11 starts, and totaled a 4.92 ERA and 64 strikeouts across 60.1 innings. He was spectacular in his debut, tossing six no-hit innings and the Giants on June 16, 2023.

At the time, he was a fill-in for a rotation compromising of Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Noah Syndergaard. Now, Sheehan is tasked with stabilizing a struggling rotation lambasted by injury. 

The move comes at a perplexing time for the Dodgers. Not because Sheehan is not needed. In fact, Los Angeles needs him more than ever, with their rotation throwing the second-fewest innings in baseball and amassing the ninth-highest ERA (4.37). But the 25-year-old has yet to toss more than 3 ½ innings in any of his minor-league rehab outings. 

Maybe he will work as an opener, something manager Dave Roberts has relied on recently, to spare the bullpen. But if asked to throw five innings a night and be a consistent stop-gap until the return of Glasnow or Blake Snell, the decision is questionable. 

Sheehan is tentatively marked to make his first appearance in 2025 in next week, but Roberts indicated the team will wait until after his next bullpen before solidifying a date.