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Dave Roberts has signaled that Emmet Sheehan‘s upcoming start against the San Diego Padres could be a pivotal one for the right-hander’s place in the Dodgers rotation, per Dodger Blue. Sheehan’s season has been marked by inconsistency, and his most recent outing — just 3.1 innings pitched in a blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles last week — did nothing to quiet concerns. Roberts acknowledged there were issues but stopped short of guaranteeing Sheehan a long leash going forward.

Sheehan burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, flashing a lively fastball and sharp breaking stuff that made him look like a legitimate mid-rotation arm. He struck out batters at an impressive clip and showed the kind of confidence on the mound that you want from a young pitcher in a big market. But durability and command have been recurring questions. He dealt with injuries that disrupted his development, and this season he’s struggled to go deep into games with any regularity. The 3.1-inning clunker against Baltimore was the latest in a string of starts where he’s failed to give the Dodgers length, which puts extra strain on a bullpen that’s already been leaned on heavily. For Sheehan personally, this is a make-or-break stretch — the stuff is there, but at some point results have to follow.

The context here matters. The Dodgers are trying to close out a series win against San Diego, a division rival we’ll likely be battling down the stretch. You don’t want your fifth starter coughing up early leads or forcing Roberts to go to the bullpen in the fourth inning during games that actually matter. With arms like Dustin May working their way back and the trade deadline approaching in late July, Sheehan doesn’t have the luxury of time. A strong outing keeps him in the conversation. Another short, ugly one and I think the front office starts exploring alternatives more aggressively.

I’ll be honest — I still believe in the talent. Sheehan’s fastball plays up in the zone and his slider can be a wipeout pitch when he commands it. But belief doesn’t fill innings, and the Dodgers need someone who can reliably get through five or six. Roberts’ comments felt like a nudge more than an ultimatum, but the subtext was clear: produce or we move on. This is exactly the kind of start where a young pitcher either steps up and earns trust or watches the rope get shorter. We’ll see which version of Sheehan shows up.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: June 28, 2026 1:01 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers