The Dodgers made a surprising call ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, optioning right-hander Emmet Sheehan to Triple-A and bringing up Paul Gervase as a fresh bullpen arm.
It’s a tough turn for Sheehan, who had just started to find his rhythm back in the majors. Over his last two outings, he gave up only one run across 11.2 innings and punched out 15 batters. That stretch included six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
Even with that recent run of dominance, Los Angeles chose to prioritize bullpen depth for the start of its four-game set in Cincinnati. Dave Roberts said, “The Dodgers optioned Emmet Sheehan, Dave Roberts said. Paul Gervase is up as a fresh bullpen arm.”
Sheehan’s 2026 season has been anything but smooth. He opened the year with plenty of promise, but after struggling through his first 20 starts, the Dodgers sent him to Triple-A on Aug. 3 following a rough outing against the Boston Red Sox, when he allowed five runs on six hits in 2.2 innings. His ERA sat at 5.29 at the time.
He responded well in Oklahoma City, then got another shot with the big club on Sept. 7 against the Reds. In that start, he allowed one run over 5.2 innings and tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. That performance kept him in the rotation for one more turn, and he followed it up with Sunday’s strong showing against Miami.
Now, though, Sheehan is ineligible to return to the Dodgers before the end of the regular season unless an injury opens the door for another call-up. He’ll be working to keep his game sharp with an eye on the postseason, where he could still have a role.
“There was a lot of stuff, going down and trying to figure things out in a less stressful place which was nice,” Sheehan said after his Sept. 7 start. “Just getting my delivery locked in and really just making sure I’m hammering it during the week so I can just go out there and compete which I felt I was doing tonight.”
"I’ve been optioned before," he added. "It’s always, 'See what we can do down there, and see what we can do to bring it back up here.'"
Gervase has already seen some big-league time with the Dodgers this season, making four appearances and giving up two runs over 7.2 innings for a 2.35 ERA with eight strikeouts. At Triple-A Oklahoma City, he posted a 4.56 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.
In Other News...
Miguel Rojas Injury Scare Leaves Dodgers Facing An Infield Question
Miguel Rojas night against the Marlins ended early after a shoulder injury flared up and aggravated the labrum tear he has been dealing with for most of his career. For the Dodgers, it was the kind of scare that can ripple beyond one game, because Rojas has been a steady infield presence and one of the players the club leans on for stability when things get messy.
Rojas plans to get a cortisone injection so he can keep playing, but the situation still leaves Los Angeles with a familiar question about how long it can count on him at full strength. The Dodgers do have depth options to cover the spot if he needs time off, which softens the blow, yet this is still the sort of injury watch that can force a team to reshuffle quickly if the discomfort lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans May Not Realize How Close This Voice Came To Elsewhere
Todd Leitz has become such a familiar part of the game-day rhythm at Dodger Stadium that it is easy to forget how unlikely the path once looked. He has handled public address duties for the club for the last 11 seasons, but before that he was still working his way through the job market for one of baseballs most recognizable behind-the-scenes roles.
Long before he was introduced to Dodgers fans, Leitz was a finalist for the Padres PA announcer opening in 2014 and came up short. The experience still proved useful, though, because it gave him a better feel for what teams were looking for when he later auditioned for a part-time Dodgers position and ultimately landed the job that turned into a steady run in Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Bullpen Picture Is Turning Against Edwin Daz Fast
Edwin Dazs path back from injury has not moved the way the Dodgers hoped, and the rehab work he has been getting with Oklahoma City has only made the outlook murkier. Neck inflammation has added to the list of issues, and with the postseason approaching, he now looks unlikely to be a realistic option for Los Angeles playoff bullpen.
The contrast with Kris Bubic only sharpens the picture. Bubic has been rolling through his Triple-A assignment with scoreless innings and a strong strikeout rate, the kind of momentum that can change a clubs late-season plans in a hurry. For the Dodgers, the bullpen discussion is increasingly about who is trending up in time to matter, and who is running out of runway. [Read more 🡒]