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Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan seems to have hold on fifth starter spot

March 21, 2026

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emmet Sheehan is pretty sure about what he’s going to be doing when the season starts next week.

“Starting,” he said after a final Cactus League start Saturday.

“I’ll do whatever they want me to do. But right now, I’m a starter.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was less definitive Friday, not naming a fifth starter when asked. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the situation between Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski was more “nuanced” than one being the fifth and the other the sixth starter with “piggyback” outings a possibility early in the season.

“Coming into camp? Just compete for a starting role. Do whatever I can to try to earn the job,” Sheehan said of his expectations this spring. “I feel like we’ve made some good progress throughout camp and done some good work.”

If Sheehan came into camp hoping to earn a starting spot, his performance was worrisome at times. An illness early in camp limited Sheehan somewhat. He made just three Cactus League starts, totaling 10⅓ innings after he pitched into the fifth inning Saturday. He gave up seven runs on eight hits and six walks in the three outings but said he has made adjustments along the way.

‘I think we definitely made a lot of progress,” Sheehan said after Saturday. “Velo was a little better today. I think stuff was a little better.

“I think it was a couple things, but just timing of how things synced up. So yeah, I think we’re in a better spot now, for sure.”

PICK TO CLICK

Each of the past three springs, Roberts has offered a “pick to click” during spring training – a player who is poised to have a more productive season than might be expected.

In spring 2024, Roberts offered Teoscar Hernandez as his “pick to click” and Hernandez went on to have an All-Star season in his first year with the Dodgers. In 2025, Roberts wasn’t as prescient. He named Michael Conforto.

As camp broke this spring, Roberts named centerfielder Andy Pages as his “pick to click” for 2026.

“I think that Andy Pages is going to take it, I really do. He hit 27 homers last year, but I think this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to (see him) make an All-Star team this year.”

Pages wasn’t far off last year. At the All-Star break, he was batting .285 with an .804 OPS and 17 home runs. He slumped some in the second half (.252 with a .727 OPS) and then badly in the postseason, so much so that Roberts benched him in the World Series.

But Roberts said he has seen a good deal of growth from Pages this spring.

“He was a young player a few years ago that didn’t like the weight room, really didn’t work with intent, but now offensively, defensively, (his work is) very consistent and on par with our superstar players. And on top of that, he’s learned to be a better hitter, a major-league hitter, and not just a slugger,” Roberts said.

Pages has been very “intentional” about his work this spring, Roberts said, particularly in trying to improve his plate discipline. He walked just 29 times in 624 plate appearances last season.

“It’s a big part of it,” Roberts said. “To his credit, he’ll go and hit on the Trajekt (simulated pitching machine) and take pitches and understand the strike zone. And so he’s making a concerted effort to understand the value of getting on base, and not just on-basing his average, and realizing that the walks and what it would do for his on-base.”

WBC WILL

Catcher Will Smith rejoined the Dodgers this week after spending most of the spring with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The Americans reached the finals before losing to Venezuela.

“Those games were a lot of fun,” Smith said of the experience. “You’re playing for your country. There’s a lot of passion going into it. There’s a lot of excitement. The crowds are awesome. So definitely grateful for those experiences. Wish we would’ve won it.

“It still stings right now. But luckily we get our rings in a couple days from the World Series last year, so I think that’ll change my mind.”

Orange County Register

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Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan seems to have hold on fifth starter spot

PICK TO CLICK

WBC WILL

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