Dodgers' Dustin May: Masterful in second spring outing
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May tossed four scoreless innings against Cincinnati in a Cactus League contest Sunday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters.
May gave up just a walk and a pair of infield singles in the start, and he got more than half of his outs via strikeout, with his fastball sitting at 96-97mph, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The right-hander has allowed just one run while striking out 13 batters over 8.2 spring innings thus far. Most importantly, May said Sunday that he feels "probably the closest that I've been to 'pre-surgery,' feel-wise," per Matthew Ritchie of MLB.com. His comment is a reference to the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May of 2021, and although he was able to come back and pitch 30 innings for Los Angeles last season, May indicated that the rehab process and subsequent return to action was a "grind." Given his talent and return to health, May could be in for a breakout campaign, though his fantasy value is capped to some extent by manager Dave Roberts' indication last month that the hurler will have workload limitation this season.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: To be limited in '23
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Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that May will have workload limitations during the 2023 season, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
May will be returning for his first full season since recovering from Tommy John surgery, so it's not a surprise that he won't handle a full workload. However, Roberts declined to say how the team would opt to limit May's innings. Therefore, it's possible that May will have turns skipped through the rotation, have his workload limited on a per-start basis, or he'll be shifted to the bullpen for periods throughout the campaign.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Settles at $1.675 million
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May signed a one-year, $1.675 million contract with the Dodgers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
May didn't make his season debut for the Dodgers last season until August following a long rehab from Tommy John surgery and his results were up-and-down before a back injury sidelined him. The right-hander won't be able to handle a ton of innings in 2023, but there's breakout potential even with a truncated workload.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Activated for NLDS
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The Dodgers activated May (back) from the 15-day injured list and added him to their roster Tuesday ahead of Game 1 of their National League Division Series matchup with the Padres.
May didn't appear in the Dodgers' 5-3 win in Game 1, but he's likely to be available out of the bullpen for the rest of the series. Julio Urias started Game 1 and Clayton Kershaw will take the hill for Game 2, while Tyler Anderson is expected to get the ball for Game 3. The Dodgers haven't tipped their hand regarding who might draw the starting nod for Game 4, but Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney both look to be likelier options for the assignment than May.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Likely to make NLDS roster
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects May (back) to be on the NLDS roster, though it's not yet determined what the right-hander's role and availability will be, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
May was placed on the 15-day injured list due to lower-back tightness Sept. 24, but he was able to toss two simulated innings Wednesday and will throw another sim game Sunday, per MLB.com. Assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks, May is expected to be on the NLDS roster, though he's not expected to work as a starter. The right-hander logged only 30 innings this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2021.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Throwing to hitters
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Manager Dave Roberts said May (back) is scheduled to throw against hitters Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was only briefly shut down from throwing after he landed on the injured list with lower-back tightness Sept. 24, and his return to facing hitters should be one of the final steps in his rehab program. However, Roberts said May isn't guaranteed a spot on the Dodgers' roster for the NLDS, even if he's healthy for the start of the series next week.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Could return in NLDS
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May (back) threw 15 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
This was his first bullpen session since going on the injured list. May will throw another session Sunday and could face hitters during sim games before the NLDS. Manager Dave Roberts said he is growing confident that May will return during the division series.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Plays catch Tuesday
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May (back) felt good while playing catch Tuesday and is "completely confident" he'll be available for the NLDS, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The right-hander has been on the shelf for less than a week with tightness in his lower back, so it's an encouraging sign he's back to throwing with no issues. May should continue ramping up his throwing program in the coming days as he attempts to get cleared in time for the postseason. Chances are, May will be limited to relief duty, at least for the NLDS.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Not throwing
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Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that May (back) won't be playing catch for at least "a few days," Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The 25-year-old landed on the shelf with lower-back tightness on Saturday, and it's not much of a surprise he'll take a break from throwing. May won't be eligible to return from the injured list until the NLDS, though it remains to be seen if he'll be healthy by that point. According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, Roberts also said the right-hander could pitch out of the bullpen once cleared to return.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Out with back tightness
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May was placed on the 15-day injured list with lower-back tightness Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The timing of the injury means that May's 2022 regular season is officially over. He returned from Tommy John surgery in late August to make six starts, recording a mediocre 4.50 ERA. It's not yet clear if the injury is expected to carry over into the postseason, though it's worth noting that the Dodgers can afford to exercise an abundance of caution given that they've nearly locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Andre Jackson was recalled to take May's place on the roster.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Throws five no-hit innings
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May (2-2) earned the win Friday, allowing just one walk across five no-hit, shutout innings versus the Giants. He struck out four.
May hadn't won a start since his season debut Aug. 20. He turned things around in a big way Friday, though the Dodgers exercised caution by pulling him after 69 pitches (40 strikes). Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reported May was dealing with some arm soreness after his previous start Sept. 10, which may explain manager Dave Roberts' approach Friday. May now has a 3.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB through 26 innings across five starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. He's tentatively projected for a home start versus the Diamondbacks next week.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: One big hiccup in no-decision
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May registered a no-decision during Friday's 5-4 loss to San Diego, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings.
The bulk of the damage against May came on a Trent Grisham three-run home run in the second inning, though he also surrendered multiple baserunners in the third and fifth. The 25-year-old struggled with his control for a second-straight start, issuing three walks while tossing only 47 of 82 pitches for strikes. After two excellent starts against Miami coming off the IL, May has struggled against San Diego in his two most recent turns and sports a 4.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 21 strikeouts across 21 innings. He's slated to toe the rubber again midweek in Arizona.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Coughs up six runs in loss
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May (1-2) took the loss Friday, allowing six runs on four hits and five walks over five innings against the Padres. He struck out five.
After a couple of gems to start his season following his return from Tommy John surgery, May took a step backward Friday, with a pair of two-run homers allowed putting the Dodgers in an early hole. May, who turns 25 in a few days, now has a 4.50 ERA this season and a 3.12 ERA for his career at the major-league level. With his impressive fastball velocity and high-spin breaking ball, May has serious strikeout upside whenever he takes the mound for Los Angeles, though it's clear his command isn't all the way back.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Takes tough loss Saturday
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May (1-1) took the loss against Miami on Saturday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four batters.
May wasn't as dominant as in his season debut one week ago, when he struck out nine batters over five scoreless, one-hit innings. Nonetheless, he looked good again Saturday, throwing 56 of 86 pitches for strikes and holding the Marlins without an extra-base hit. Two of the five base knocks against him were infield singles in the sixth inning, which proved to be the decisive frame. May has made two starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, and he's allowed just two runs over 11 innings while posting a 13:3 K:BB.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Dominant in season debut
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May (1-0) earned the win over Miami on Saturday, allowing one hit and walking two batters while notching nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
The Dodgers couldn't have asked for much more from May in his first big-league outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery last May. The right-hander was a bit shaky in the first inning, allowing a leadoff single and a pair of walks. However, he struck out the other three batters he faced in the frame and went on to retire all 12 hitters who stepped up to the plate against him during the remainder of his outing. May neared triple-digits on his four-seamer, per Sarah Wexler of MLB.com, and induced 13 swinging strikes among his 71 pitches. With Walker Buehler (elbow) out for the season and Clayton Kershaw (back) on the 15-day IL, May's return and ability to ramp up over the remainder of the regular season could be critical in the Dodgers' quest to return to the World Series.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Activated ahead of Saturday's start
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May (elbow) was activated ahead of his start Saturday against the Marlins.
The runway is clear for May to be in the Dodgers' rotation for the rest of the regular season. He logged a 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB in 21 innings across six rehab outings.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Confirmed to start Saturday
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that May (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game against the Marlins in Los Angeles, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
On the same day the Dodgers announced that Walker Buehler (elbow) would require season-ending surgery, the team at least got some welcome news in the form of May's impending return from the IL. May, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from May 2021 Tommy John surgery, will presumably take over the spot in the rotation presently being filled by Ryan Pepiot, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City when Clayton Kershaw (back) went on the IL. May wrapped up a dominant six-start rehab assignment in the minors with a five-inning, 10-strikeout performance Sunday at Triple-A. He built up to 70 pitches in that outing, so the Dodgers may be inclined to keep him in the 80-to-90 range when he takes the hill Sunday for his 2022 MLB debut.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Returning Aug. 20
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May (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Aug. 20 against the Marlins, according to May's agent, Craig Rose.
May is set to make his final rehab start Sunday, so there was a general idea of when he would be activated and start in the majors. He threw five innings and 68 pitches in his most recent rehab outing, so while the team is likely to be cautious, May probably won't have an extremely restrictive pitch count for his season debut with the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Possible waiver wire pickups
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I expected to tout the Astros' Lance McCullers as a waiver wire pickup with him set to join the Astros starting rotation Saturday following a four-start rehab assignment, but his 81 percent roster rate put him just beyond the cutoff. The good news, though, is that Dustin May is even better. He just made his second-to-last rehab start Tuesday, striking out eight over five innings, and has looked as untouchable as before Tommy John surgery, when he put together a 2.74 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 13.7 K/9 in five starts early last year. Armed with a devastating two-seamer that approaches triple digits and a curveball that piles up whiffs in its own right, the 24-year-old should be another big hit for the Dodgers. Now may be your last shot to grab him.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: One more rehab start
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May (elbow) will make one final rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday before entering the Dodgers' starting rotation, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.
May logged his fifth rehab outing Tuesday and threw 68 pitches with eight strikeouts across five innings, and he'll continue building up his workload Sunday before returning to the major-league club. Assuming he avoids any setbacks, the 24-year-old lines up to make his season debut the following weekend against the Marlins.
