Emmet Sheehan Carries 3.62 xERA Into Angels Start

Emmet Sheehan takes a 3.62 xERA into a home start against the Angels today, a setup that points to sharper pitching than his 4.50 ERA shows. The Dodgers are also chasing a sweep, and Sheehan gets that assignment at Dodger Stadium.

Sheehan’s numbers at Dodger Stadium

Sheehan has missed bats at a strong clip this season. His 25% strikeout rate, 20% strikeout-minus-walk rate and 14.7% swinging-strike rate all back up the lower expected ERA, even though the results on the surface have been louder against him.

That split matters here because he is better at Dodger Stadium, and this start comes in a setting where the matchup lines up for him. The home work gives the Dodgers a chance to lean on the version of Sheehan that has been more effective than the one reflected in the ERA column.

Angels vs. right-handed pitching

The Angels have struggled against right-handed pitching since May. They have struck out 24.6% of the time in those matchups, hit.226 and posted a.654 OPS, numbers that fit a lineup having trouble handling the type of arm Sheehan brings.

Those rates give the Dodgers a cleaner path to finish the sweep at home. For Sheehan, it is the kind of start that can turn a season line from ordinary to better aligned with the underlying metrics, especially when the opponent has not hit right-handers well for months.

Dodgers seek the sweep

The immediate task is simple: handle the Angels and keep the sweep in reach. Sheehan gets the ball in a game that leans toward his strengths, and the Dodgers can bank on the same home setting that has made him the better pitcher.