Roster Move: Skubal to Bereavement List, Sheehan recalled by Dodgers

Tarik Skubal has quickly become one of the most important arms in the Dodgers ’ postseason plans, but Los Angeles will be without him briefly after placing the left-hander on the MLB bereavement list Sunday.

Manager Dave Roberts said Skubal would be away from the club for “a couple days,” with no further details provided about the personal matter.

The timing came one day after Skubal turned in his toughest start since joining the Dodgers , allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings during Saturday’s 10-4 win over the San Francisco Giants . He also acknowledged afterward that his fastball command wasn't where he wanted it.

Even with that setback, Skubal has made a significant impact since arriving at the trade deadline. He is 4-2 with a 2.95 ERA in nine starts for Los Angeles and remains firmly in the conversation to take the ball in Game 1 of a playoff series.

Sheehan gets another chance

Skubal ’s move to the bereavement list created room for Emmet Sheehan to return from Triple-A Oklahoma City .

Sheehan had only been optioned earlier in the week and ordinarily would have been required to remain in the minors for 15 days. Replacing a player on the bereavement list, however, allows the Dodgers to bring him back early.

He will work behind opener Jack Dreyer in Sunday’s series finale against San Francisco, giving Roberts another look at a role Sheehan could fill in October.

“Emmet’s a part of the conversation,” Roberts said Sunday, “but if there is a role in the postseason it would be out of the ’pen.”

Sheehan has earned that consideration with a strong run across both Triple-A and the majors.

Over his last five appearances, three in the minors and two with the Dodgers , he has allowed just two runs across 29 innings while striking out 39 and issuing only eight walks.

His most recent major-league stint included one run allowed in 11 2/3 innings before Los Angeles sent him back down to create roster flexibility.

Dodgers continue shaping playoff pitching staff

The Dodgers made another bullpen move Sunday, recalling right-hander Kyle Hurt and optioning Seth Halvorsen .

Halvorsen had allowed nine runs in 10 innings with Los Angeles and had appeared three times in four days. Hurt , meanwhile, returned after throwing three scoreless innings for Oklahoma City since his latest demotion.

Los Angeles entered Sunday with a chance to sweep the Giants while also reducing its magic number of four to secure a first-round playoff bye.

The Dodgers held a four-game advantage over Atlanta for the No.2 seed in the National League, adding importance to every remaining roster decision.

Skubal ’s absence is expected to be brief. Bereavement leave lasts a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven, and because he just pitched Saturday, the Dodgers may not need him back until his next scheduled start.

If Blake Snell continues progressing from his groin injury, Los Angeles could enter October with a rotation featuring Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Snell .

Sheehan ’s role may look different, but his next few outings could determine how much Roberts trusts him once the postseason begins.