When Tony Gonsolin became the latest Dodgers starter to go down with an injury over the weekend, that opened another spot in the rotation. L.A. will plug in his spot with a bullpen game on Tuesday, after which the club might have to figure out a longer-term substitution for Gonsolin, who is shut down from throwing for an indefinite period.
Keep an eye on Emmet Sheehan, who has made steady progress while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Sheehan made his third rehab start on Saturday, throwing three-plus innings on 57 pitches with Oklahoma City.
He might be closer than any of us thought. The plan is for Sheehan to make at least one more rehab start in the Minors, and then …?
"The plan is to get him through four innings," manager Dave Roberts said Monday. "So if he can do that, then he’s sort of going to be a viable conversation.”
Sheehan posted a 4.92 ERA across 13 outings (11 starts) for the Dodgers in 2023, his only Major League action before having Tommy John surgery in May '24. Because of that, he brings a similar sort of uncertainty as with Gonsolin and Dustin May, who both returned to the big leagues this year after undergoing elbow surgery.
But those around the organization have been very encouraged by what they've seen from Sheehan at every stage of his rehab. If he is indeed ready to return to the big leagues after his next rehab start, he could be just what the Dodgers need at this point in the season.
"Not surprised in the sense of the work ethic … and he's just a really good worker," Roberts said. "So really pleasantly pleased with how far he's come, how fast and how good he's been.”
