The Los Angeles Dodgers fell 10-7 to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday in a high-scoring contest as Emmet Sheehan continued to search for consistency on the mound.

After the game, manager Dave Roberts discussed what he believes has prevented the young right-hander from putting together complete performances.

Sheehan surrendered six runs on eight hits (two home runs) in 5.1 innings with six strikeouts, while struggling to command the strike zone throughout the outing.

He fell behind seven of the first 11 hitters he faced, putting himself in difficult counts early.

The Phillies capitalized on those opportunities.

Trea Turner connected for a two-run home run during a four-run second inning, while Brandon Marsh later added a solo home run.

Sheehan is now 4-7 this season, and the difficult outing pushed his ERA to 5.13 in 87.2 innings over 18 starts and extended what has been an uneven 2026 season following an encouraging 2025 campaign.

Despite the inconsistency, the Dodgers continue giving Sheehan opportunities as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent just over a year ago.

Los Angeles has needed additional rotation depth with Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell all currently unavailable.

As a result, Sheehan remains an important part of the team’s plans while it waits for several key pitchers to return.

According to The Athletic, Roberts believes the biggest obstacle has not been mechanical.

Instead, the Dodgers manager pointed to Sheehan’s mindset before each pitch.

Roberts explained that Sheehan appears to elevate both his focus and intensity only after something goes wrong during an outing.

Rather than attacking hitters with maximum conviction from the opening pitch, Roberts believes the right-hander often reaches his highest level only after facing adversity.

“It’s just really trying to be convicted in his pitch making before he touches the stove," Roberts said. "I think that when there’s damage or things have happened, then he locks in. (He) raises his level of intensity a little bit more. But it’s just got to be that before things start happening.”

In the manager’s view, that sense of urgency needs to exist before damage occurs instead of serving as a reaction once runners begin reaching base or runs cross the plate.

For Roberts, improving that mental approach could be just as important as refining any physical aspect of Sheehan’s game.

The Dodgers are 64-38 this season, which gives them a commanding 11.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

That comfortable advantage gives Los Angeles the flexibility to remain patient with Sheehan’s development.

Even so, his progress over the coming weeks could influence how aggressively the Dodgers pursue another starting pitcher before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

If Sheehan establishes greater consistency, the team may feel more comfortable with its current rotation depth.

If the struggles continue, adding another experienced starter could become a much higher priority.

Sheehan has consistently demonstrated the qualities teams value in young pitchers returning from major surgery. His willingness to continue competing despite setbacks reflects both resilience and confidence in his long-term ability.

He has shown the determination to keep making adjustments while embracing opportunities at the highest level.

Coaches have praised his composure and his willingness to learn, traits that often become just as important as raw talent during a player’s development.

Recovering from Tommy John surgery requires patience, discipline, and trust in the rehabilitation process. Sheehan has continued working through each challenge with professionalism.

The Dodgers have reasons to believe that his best performances are still ahead as he gains more experience and continues building confidence with every start.

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