Emmet Sheehan plagued by inconsistency in Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA — Emmet Sheehan backpedaled down the mound, watching the ball fly just over the left-field wall.

His start Monday, very similar to his season, had its ups and downs. But just when it appeared he’d discovered a groove, he gave up a momentum-swinging solo home run to Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 10-7 loss to the Phillies.

It was Sheehan’s first start since the All-Star break, pushed back because of a rainout Saturday in New York. He gave up six runs in 5⅓ innings, raising considerations again over his inconsistency. While the Dodgers (63-38) climate the loss of Shohei Ohtani from the rotation, they need steadiness from the remainder of their starters.

“Certainly, he’s getting a lot of opportunity,” supervisor Dave Roberts said of Sheehan. “It’s not the consistency that any of us like or want, Emmet included. Until there’s another alternative, we’re going to keep running him out there.”

One unhealthy inning from Sheehan pushed the sport into the Phillies’ favor. With one out in the second, he gave up three straight hits, a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer by Trea Turner to put the Dodgers behind 4-0.

Sheehan adjusted, navigating the next three innings effectively without giving up a run.

“It’s just really trying to be convicted in his pitch-making before he touches the stove,” Roberts said. “When there’s damage or things have happened, then he locks in, raises his level of intensity a little bit more. But it’s just got to be that before, you know, things start happening.”

It was clear Sheehan’s supply wasn’t totally in sync. His velocity steadily dropped, with his fastball averaging 94.7 mph in the first inning and 92.7 in the fifth. But he gave the Dodgers’ offense time to chip away at the Phillies’ lead.

“It’s just trying to keep myself from being frustrated and knowing that our offense is so good that we’re in every game,” Sheehan said.

The Dodgers scored in the fourth when Mookie Betts got here home from third as Teoscar Hernández hit into a double play. They scored two more runs in the sixth, with Max Muncy delivering an RBI double after Cristopher Sánchez’s start ended after 99 pitches.

The tide actually started to flip later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded. Andy Pages chopped a slow bouncer up the center, and Turner charged. The ball hit off the heel of the Phillies shortstop’s glove, and another run scored.

Boos poured down even as Turner was chasing the ball. It didn’t matter that he’d hit the second-inning homer; Phillies followers have been going to make it clear how upset they have been about his second defensive mistake of the evening.

The Dodgers, however, didn’t journey the momentum for long.

Three pitches into the underside of the sixth, Sheehan grooved a fastball to Marsh, and he hit it out for a 5-3 lead. A double to heart — which bounced off Pages’ glove — and a strikeout later, Sheehan handed over the ball.

Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting a home run for the Dodgers in the seventh inning Monday.

(Chris Szagola / Associated Press)

“I thought we had a pretty good handle on [my delivery] coming in,” Sheehan said. “The past few starts have been better with that, and then kind of a step back today, which is pretty frustrating.”

Alex Vesia then surrendered a stroll and a three-run homer to Turner, who gained back the followers (until another botched grounder in the ninth).

From there, the sport turned a slugfest. Betts, who went 4 for 5, hit two home runs — a solo shot in the seventh and a two-run blast in the ninth.

The Phillies (56-45) hit two homers off Landon Knack to end with 5.

Ohtani update

Ohtani possible will throw off a mound late in the week, Roberts said. But it’s still unclear when his next pitching start can be. Ohtani, who has continued to play as the designated hitter, went 0 for 4 on Monday.

Ohtani, who has missed his last two begins and acquired an Orthovisc injection to handle lingering discomfort in his left knee, has continued to throw on flat ground. He again performed catch in left discipline at Citizens Bank Park on Monday.

Dodgers make commerce

The Dodgers added bullpen depth with upside, buying right-hander Seth Halvorsen from Colorado. They despatched two minor leaguers — right-hander Nick Frasso, who has a 4.74 ERA in triple A, and outfielder Landyn Vidourek, a 2025 third-round choose — to the Rockies.

Halvorsen, coming off a stint on the injured listing because of proper shoulder inflammation, is set to be part of triple-A Oklahoma City. He throws a 100-mph fastball but hasn’t discovered a means to control it. He has a 4.31 ERA and 13 saves in three seasons.

“Hopefully we can unlock some levers,” Roberts said. “But the arm talent’s there. Our guys are really excited about him.”