Sheehan Settles In, Dodgers Do What They Do in 6–3 Win Over Rangers

It might have been worth mentioning to Emmet Sheehan before first pitch that giving up the first run and falling behind isn’t actually required — even if the Dodgers have made it look that way through the first couple weeks of the season.

Two pitches in, that memo clearly hadn’t been delivered.

A 95 mph fastball to Brandon Nimmo was promptly sent 405 feet to center field, and just like that, the Los Angeles Dodgers were trailing again. And, as has often been the case, right where they wanted to be.

After that early misstep, Sheehan regrouped quickly, retiring the next three hitters and settling into what turned out to be one of his more encouraging outings of the season.

Then it was time for the offense to follow the usual script.

Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the first by launching a Jack Leiter fastball into the right field seats, immediately tying the game and, almost as an afterthought, extending his on-base streak to 45 consecutive games — the longest ever by a Japanese-born player. At this point, it barely warrants a pause.

Five batters later, with two men on, Teoscar Hernández took Leiter deep to left, giving the Dodgers a 4–1 lead before most fans had settled into their seats.

From there, the game felt… comfortable.

Which, given how things have gone lately, probably should have raised some suspicion.

To their credit, the Texas Rangers didn’t go quietly. Nimmo continued to be a problem, adding a second home run and finishing with three RBIs on the night, accounting for most of the Rangers’ offense. Outside of him, however, Texas managed just one other hit, as Sheehan kept the rest of the lineup largely in check.

And that’s where the real story sits.

Sheehan’s final line — six innings, four hits, six strikeouts, and just one walk on 77 pitches — doesn’t scream dominance, but it does show something just as important: progression. His velocity climbed into the upper 90s, his command held, and aside from one very familiar name, he handled his business.

After the game, Dave Roberts didn’t hesitate to point that out, noting that each of Sheehan’s last few outings has shown improvement and that the right-hander is beginning to put together more consistent, quality innings.

If that trend continues, the Dodgers may have quietly solved a question mark in their rotation.

The bullpen made sure the rest stayed quiet.

After Sheehan exited, Dodgers relievers combined to shut the door, striking out five and not allowing another run. Jack Dreyer bounced back from his previous outing by striking out the side in the seventh, while Alex Vesia, looking about as amped as ever, closed things out for the save.

The Dodgers added a bit of insurance late, with Hernández doubling and eventually scoring on a single from Andy Pages, giving Los Angeles a 6–3 cushion that, for once, didn’t require any late-inning drama.

All told, it was another win — their seventh in eight games — and another example of a team that continues to find different ways to get there.

Sometimes it’s late-inning heroics.

Sometimes it’s a barrage of home runs.

“And sometimes, it’s a young pitcher settling in after two pitches, learning from it on the fly, and looking more and more like the pitcher the Dodgers believe he can be.”