Dodgers to go with bullpen game versus Red Sox

The unearned runs resulted from his own error in the fifth. After two infield singles, he tried to retire the lead runner at third on Dustin Harris’s sac bunt attempt but made a wild throw that allowed the runner to score. The loss means Yamamoto ends the regular season 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA. He’s currently fifth in the majors in ERA and second to Jacob Misiorowski with a 0.87 WHIP.

Technically, Sheehan could be brought back later this week to take the ball against the Giants in place of an injured Blake Snell (groin), but that would require another player, not necessarily Snell himself, to go on the injured list. The 26-year-old righty struck out nine over 5 1/3 shutout frames against San Francisco on Sunday. He’s been temporarily demoted to get Roki Sasaki back on Los Angeles’ active roster.,

Sheehan didn’t get the win; he would have needed to record two more outs, since the Dodgers didn’t take the lead until the bottom of the seventh. Fantasy owners have to be disappointed to have missed out on Sheehan’s performance after the Dodgers’ surprising decision to demote him earlier this week, but it looks like the team had this plotted out. It’s unclear if Sheehan will get another start. The Dodgers are probably going to want him in the pen during the postseason, though he would be the top rotation alternative in the event of a Blake Snell setback.

With Tarik Skubal landing on the bereavement list on Sunday, Sheehan will return to add a fresh arm to the Dodgers’ bullpen. Expect him to get some usage during Sunday’s bullpen game against the Giants. Sheehan fired six scoreless innings against the Giants last Sunday in his last start with the Dodgers.

Yamamoto gave up two walks in the first and an Elly De La Cruz double in the third, retiring the other 21 batters he faced. He struck out seven. Yamamoto is 14-8 with a 2.51 ERA in 179 innings this season, which is pretty close to his 12-8 record and 2.49 ERA from 173 2/3 innings last year. The big differences are that his strikeout rate has dropped from 29.4 percent last year to 26 percent this year, but also that he’s upped his efficiency; those 179 innings have come in 28 starts this year, whereas he needed 30 to throw 173 2/3 innings last year. He’ll likely make his next start Tuesday against the Padres.

It’s a significant loss for Los Angeles’ high-leverage relief mix as Henriquez has been one of their more reliable arms. The hard-throwing 24-year-old has posted an impressive 2.85 ERA and 71/25 K/BB ratio across 60 innings this season. He was probably next in line for save opportunities if lefty Tanner Scott continued to struggle after blowing a save against the Marlins over the weekend. He’s done for the remainder of the regular season, but figures to be ready for the outset of the postseason.

It’s a tough break for fantasy managers hoping to see Sheehan take the ball against the Giants later this week. The 26-year-old righty posted five strikeouts over six scoreless frames in a no-decision against the Marlins on Sunday. He allowed just one run over 11 2/3 frames in a pair of starts after returning to the majors back on September 7. It appears that his rotation spot will be going to Roki Sasaki (blister) in a couple days. The Dodgers also have former Royals starter Kris Bubic joining their pitching equation later this week.

After striking out 10 batters in his return to the majors on Monday, Sheehan feasted in a favorable matchup. He gave up just two hits — both of them singles — while walking one and striking out five. He induced 14 swinging strikes in his 81 pitches while getting multiple whiffs on all four of his pitches. Unfortunately, the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Nevertheless, it was another impressive outing for someone who was regarded as a breakout candidate in fantasy leagues coming into the year. This doesn’t make up for the disappointment earlier in the year, but Sheehan is back on the radar. If the Dodgers decide to keep him in the rotation, it would likely be against the Giants next weekend.

The lone run came on Elly De La Cruz’s homer in the fourth. Yamamoto allowed only two other hits and walked one in the 90-pitch gem. He currently ranks second in the majors with a 0.88 WHIP, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski at 0.80. He’ll pitch in Cincinnati next time out.

The lone run came on Elly De La Cruz’s homer in the first. Sheehan allowed only two other hits and walked one in the 82-pitch outing. Manager Dave Roberts said after the game that Sheehan would get a chance to remain in the rotation. That probably puts him in line to face the Marlins on Sunday, making him a worthy streaming option.