Sheehan hit around in loss to Orioles

With a 10.24 ERA in his previous three starts, Sheehan’s rotation spot might have been in jeopardy with a rough showing today. However, he did well in allowing just two hits and two walks. He moved to 4-5 with a 5.08 ERA ahead of another start against the Padres next weekend.

Sheehan was brilliant for the first five innings, but he was unable to record an out in the sixth and was charged for three runs; one of them on a solo homer from Sam Antonacci, of all hitters. The right-hander certainly had quality stuff for the majority of this start, and despite the mediocre box score, there’s more positives to take from this outing than negatives. He’ll look to avoid the big inning against the Orioles on Sunday.

This was Nick Madrigal’s doing. He saw 14 pitches and got two strike threes overturned on his way to a walk with one out in the inning. Another walk and a two-run single followed, and Sheehan was lifted after throwing 35 pitches to get just one out in the frame. Fortunately, Edgardo Henriquez stranded both runners from there, so Sheehan ended up allowing just the two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Obviously, it’s not the kind of outing anyone was looking for from him today, but at least it didn’t do much damage to his ERA. He’s due to face the White Sox next weekend.

Sheehan allowed only one hit through five scoreless innings before giving up homers to Nolan Arenado in the sixth and Tommy Troy in the seventh. That might suggest he had another one of his typical in-game velocity dropoffs tonight, but he actually held up nicely there tonight; he averaged 95.9 mph with his fastball in the sixth and 95.4 mph in the seventh, compared to an average of 95.9 mph overall. Sheehan has allowed one or two runs in four of his last five starts, and his season ERA is down to 4.50. He’ll likely face the Angels on Sunday.

Sheehan got hit on his pitching arm by a comebacker in the fourth, but he stayed in after throwing what seemed like a full bullpen session under the watchful eyes of the Dodgers’ trainer and manager. He proved fine afterwards and got through six innings for the fourth time in 10 starts this season. He’ll be a solid option in mixed leagues next week with a road start in Arizona and a home outing against the Angels.

After Sheehan was given a two-run lead in the first, he gave it right back on a two-run blast by Manny Machado. He served up another two-run shot to Miguel Andujar in the third. Sheehan then stranded two runners in the fourth before he was replaced on the mound in the fifth, ending his day at just 67 pitches. He generated only five swinging strikes to collect two strikeouts. It’s been a disappointing season for the 26-year-old right-hander. He’ll take a 4.93 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 51/13 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings into a start against the Rockies in Los Angeles next Tuesday.

The two runs came on a fluky inside-the-park homer from Jung Hoo Lee. That Sheehan racked up 19 whiffs and allowed just two hard-hit balls tonight makes this easily his second most impressive performance of 2026, behind only his 10-strikeout game against the Cubs. It’s still an issue that he just can’t maintain his best velocity for more than an inning or two, but as long as the Dodgers keep starting him, he’ll probably be worth using in mixed leagues. He’ll make his next start Wednesday versus the Padres.

Sheehan was lifted from a 1-1 game, but if he had finished the fifth (and everything else had worked out the same), he could have gotten the win with the Dodgers going ahead in the bottom of the inning. Still, if Sheehan wants to pitch deeper into games, he needs to be a better job of maintaining his stuff. By inning tonight, his fastball averaged: 96.1 mph, 94.4 mph, 94.8 mph, 92.4 mph and 93.1 mph. It’s the kind of thing that makes one wonder if his future is in the pen. He’ll take a 4.79 ERA into his next start, presumably Thursday against the Giants.

It was a disastrous first inning for Sheehan, who allowed two of the first four batters he faced to reach base, one of whom came around to score on a balk. After said balk, Sheehan would allow a two-run homer to Nolan Gorman to give the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead, but eventually escaped the inning without allowing any additional runs. Sheehan would give up another homer in the third inning, this time to Alec Burleson, to put the Cardinals up 4-1, but came back out to pitch a scoreless fourth inning before being pulled with two outs in the fifth inning. With his ERA now sitting at 5.23 on the season, Sheehan has struggled to be consistent despite good strikeout totals. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Astros.

Looking the best he has all season, Sheehan struck out seven in three perfect innings to begin the night. His velocity dipped afterwards and the Cubs started making good contact against him, but they never could sustain a rally. Sheehan departed with a 4-0 lead in the seventh, only to watch Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen cough up the lead before Tanner Scott took the loss in the ninth. As a result, Sheehan remained 2-0 with a 4.78 ERA. He’ll get the Cardinals next week.