Emmet Sheehan Dominates: Rookie’s 10-Strikeout Gem Lifts Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — As World Series Game 7 looms in Toronto, one unexpected name is dominating Dodgers chatter and search boxes alike: Emmet Sheehan. The 25-year-old right-hander has quietly evolved from intriguing prospect to potential October X-factor, and his sudden surge in buzz could spell big things for Los Angeles on baseball’s biggest stage. Regular-season revelation Before elbow surgery sidelined him early in 2025, Sheehan flashed top-of-the-rotation stuff, posting a 2.82 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 73 ⅓ innings over 15 games (12 starts). His 0.97 WHIP ranked among the lowest on the Dodgers’ staff, and opponents hit just .189 against his high-spin four-seamer and wipe-out changeup. Those numbers, combined with a 33 percent swing-and-miss rate, convinced the front office he could thrive in any role once healthy. Road back from surgery Sheehan’s path back was anything but smooth. A March elbow procedure forced him to the 60-day IL, followed by a month-long rehab stint that stretched from the Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He returned just before the All-Star break, and although the Dodgers eased him in as a multi-inning reliever, his stuff ticked up immediately: fastball 97-99 mph, changeup 88 with 18 inches of fade, and a new cutter he developed during rehab. Postseason roller-coaster The playoffs, however, have been a mixed bag. Through five appearances Sheehan was tagged for seven earned runs in 6 ⅓ frames, ballooning his ERA to 9.95. But in the marathon 18-inning Game 3, the righty delivered 2 ⅔ scoreless innings to stabilize a weary bullpen and set up the eventual Dodger victory. Manager Dave Roberts said that outing “got Emmet back on track” and earned him high-leverage consideration for the winner-take-all finale. Why Sheehan matters in Game 7 • Bullpen fatigue: Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow each threw Friday; Roberts needs a rested power arm for the middle innings. • Matchup weapon: Toronto’s right-handed core (Guerrero Jr., Springer, Bichette) posted sub-.200 averages against changeups 88 mph or harder, Sheehan’s specialty. • Length option behind Shohei Ohtani: Ohtani is starting on short rest and hasn’t thrown 100 pitches since mid-September. If he exits early, Sheehan’s starter background allows him to bridge multiple frames without emptying the ‘pen. Scouting report Fastball: 97 mph average, 19 inches vertical break, gets whiffs up in the zone. Changeup: Plus-plus; identical arm speed, late tumble. Opponents slugged .267 vs the pitch in 2025. Cutter: Debuted in August, sitting 92; keeps lefties honest and induces soft contact. Mindset: After tossing six no-hit innings in his 2023 MLB debut, Sheehan told reporters, “I live for big spots.” The Dodgers hope that confidence translates under World Series pressure. Historic precedent Los Angeles fans have seen this movie before. In 1988 it was injured reliever Orel Hershiser who authored October heroics. In 2020, rookie fireman Julio Urías slammed the door for the franchise’s first title in 32 years. Sheehan’s profile—electric stuff, innings-eating résumé, postseason redemption arc—lines up with those unlikely legends. What to watch tonight 1. Early leverage: If Ohtani exits by the fourth or fifth, expect Sheehan to be first out of the gate against Toronto’s heart of the order. 2. Pitch mix: Look for a heavy dose of changeups second time through the lineup; Blue Jays hitters chase 34 percent of split-change offerings out of the zone. 3. Velocity reading: Anything north of 98 mph suggests the elbow is 100 percent and the adrenaline is flowing. Bottom line Game 7s often crown unexpected stars. Emmet Sheehan’s journey—from sixth-round pick to post-surgery question mark, to potential World Series hero—has all the makings of the next Dodger folk tale. If his electric arm shows up tonight, Los Angeles could be celebrating its eighth championship by sunrise, and “Sheehan Dodgers” will be a phrase etched permanently into franchise lore.