Dodgers pitcher Sheehan's stable velocity sends positive signal despite giving up home runs in loss

For Los Angeles Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan, the issue was not "whether" but "when."

In the first two months of the season, Sheehan's fastball faced persistent problems. His velocity declined overall at the start of the season, and while it recovered during the opening innings as the season progressed, it would drop again in the later stages. However, today his velocity remained more consistent than in any start this year.

Sheehan pitched a strong 6.1 innings in the series opener at Chase Field, allowing only three of the 22 batters he faced to reach base. The problem? Two of those batters hit solo home runs off him, while the Dodgers' offense went quiet, losing 1-4.

After giving up a two-out double to Corbin Carroll in the first inning, Sheehan retired 15 consecutive Diamondbacks hitters until rookie Tommy Troy hit a game-tying home run in the sixth. One inning later, he lost the lead when Nolan Arenado hit a go-ahead homer with one out in the seventh.

Arenado was the last batter Sheehan faced. The 26-year-old right-hander recorded three strikeouts and no walks, with an average fastball velocity of 95.9 mph, a season high.

"I think he pitched very well and deserved a better outcome," manager Dave Roberts said. "The fastball was sharp, the slider was good, and he used the curveball effectively to keep hitters off balance."

The Dodgers' only run came on a groundout by Freddie Freeman in the third inning, leaving Sheehan with very little margin for error. Los Angeles went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base.

"Overall, I think we had some good at-bats and squared up a few balls," said Kyle Tucker, who went 0-for-3 with a walk. "But they made some outstanding defensive plays, and we just couldn't bring runs home. That's how it goes sometimes."

Despite the painful home runs late in the game, Sheehan's stuff looked the best it has all season. His fastball velocity was 1.7 mph higher than his season average. In previous starts, his velocity tended to decline starting in the fourth inning, but today he maintained it throughout, with an average fastball velocity of at least 95.4 mph in every inning.

"Given how the start ended and losing the lead, it's a bit bittersweet," Sheehan said. "But yes, I definitely see this as a positive to build on."

After returning from Tommy John surgery last year, Sheehan posted a 2.82 ERA over 15 appearances (12 starts). He experienced ups and downs early this season, partly due to velocity fluctuations. Sheehan has always found ways to effectively retire hitters and pitch deep into games even without his best stuff, but he has also admitted multiple times that things would be different if his fastball were a few miles per hour faster.

In the first two months of the season, Sheehan worked hard to stabilize his pitching mechanics. Over time, he felt that only a few minor adjustments were needed to break through in his delivery. Today, a mental shift may have been the final piece he needed.

"Honestly, I think it's about staying relaxed early in the delivery and then putting in effort later," Sheehan said. "I was too tense before, and the coaches have mentioned that to me. There are many other factors, but yes, we've been working hard on this."

In the current rotation, Sheehan is another Dodgers starter taking a step forward. Justin Wrobleski's velocity rebounded on Saturday, and Roki Sasaki's fastball touched triple digits for the first time this season on Sunday.

These three young starters have provided valuable stability for the Dodgers' rotation in the absence of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Snell is recovering from surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, while Glasnow is sidelined with lower back spasms, and neither is expected to pitch in the near future. Sheehan, Wrobleski, and Sasaki may be the back end of the rotation, but they have stepped up when the Dodgers needed them most, proving their worth.

"I think we've raised the floor of our rotation," Roberts said. "The top-end aces know who they are, and that's great. But now we have a very good chance to win every night because of our starters."