Emmet Sheehan’s difficult stretch continued Sunday as the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a lopsided 12-1 home loss against the Baltimore Orioles.

The right-hander struggled from the opening innings and never fully settled into the outing.

Sheehan allowed six runs on eight hits (two home runs) with four strikeouts and three walks in 3.1 innings.

The damage started immediately.

Baltimore scored in each of Sheehan’s first three innings before the Dodgers removed him with one out in the fourth inning and two runners still on base.

Both eventually crossed the plate, adding further damage to the final line.

Home runs have become one of the biggest concerns surrounding Sheehan’s season.

The long balls surrendered Sunday to Taylor Ward in the second inning and Colton Cowser in the third represented the fifth separate occasion this season in which Sheehan has allowed multiple home runs in a game.

That trend has become increasingly difficult to overlook.

What makes the recent results more notable is the contrast with last season.

After posting a 2.82 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 73.1 innings over 13 regular season starts last year, Sheehan is 3-5 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 67.2 innings across 14 starts this season.

He has surrendered 14 home runs while recording 76 strikeouts and 20 walks, including 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 16 innings over his last four starts, surrendering five home runs. He has 17 strikeouts and six walks in that span.

For the Dodgers, the challenge now becomes identifying whether these issues stem from execution, pitch sequencing, location mistakes, or larger developmental adjustments.

The organization has consistently shown patience with young pitchers and may continue viewing this period as part of the growth process rather than a reason to dramatically change course.

At the same time, results matter for a team chasing the World Series every year.

Beyond the numbers, Sheehan still possesses qualities that explain why belief remains.

One of his strongest attributes is competitiveness.

Even during difficult outings, he continues attacking hitters instead of pitching cautiously.

Another important quality is resilience.

Young pitchers often face stretches that test confidence, and Sheehan continues taking the ball and working through challenges.

He also shows adaptability and a willingness to make adjustments rather than relying solely on previous success.

Development is rarely linear.

For Sheehan, the next step may not be avoiding adversity altogether but learning how to respond to it and turning difficult outings into long-term growth.

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