Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

On a picturesque Wednesday night at PNC Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-to-0. Emmet Sheehan, Ben Casparius, and Justin Wrobleski pitched well enough to win. The Dodgers left ten men on base.

A chest cold pushed back Shohei Ohtani’s start, but Ohtani could be a DH. This cold has been making the rounds through the Dodger clubhouse. Max Muncy’s rehabilitation assignment was delayed because of it.

Most of Dodger losses have been caused by poor pitching performances this season, and on Wednesday, the Dodger offense didn’t show up. This was the eighth time that the Dodgers had been shut out. Twice during this game, the Dodgers left the bases loaded and couldn’t score. Too many young Dodger hitters were trying to be heroes instead of hitting what the situation called for.

Will Smith left the game after a foul ball hit his hand while catching. Although x-rays were negative, Smith is sore and won’t play tomorrow. Dalton Rushing was also hit on the hand but remained in the game.

Sheenan was forced into an emergency start, but he had eight days’ rest. His command was a little off as expected, running up his pitch count. After I4.2 innings with 84 pitches, Dave Roberts lifted Sheenan. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Sheenan has been amazing. His pure stuff can compete with Tyler Glasnow, and Sheenan should mature into an excellent right-handed starter.