The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back Dustin May this season after he missed nearly two years while recovering from a flexor tendon and Tommy John revision surgery, and later an emergency procedure to repair an esophageal tear.
May struggled with inconsistency during the first half as he posted a 4.96 ERA, 4.78 FIP and 1.35 WHIP in 17 starts. More importantly, however, is that the right-hander has been able to stay healthy in his sixth big league campaign.
May has already set a new career high with 94.1 innings pitched and could be a candidate to join the bullpen in the second half as a way to manage his workload.
While a potential move seems likely, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said May will initially remain in the starting rotation coming out of the All-Star break, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I think right now, he’s going to stay in the same role as a starter when we start the second half,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers are likely waiting for Blake Snell to rejoin the rotation before moving May to the bullpen. The left-hander is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could potentially return in the next two weeks.
Snell’s imminent return would give the Dodgers their most complete rotation in quite some time, with Tyler Glasnow recently rejoining the group and Shohei Ohtani continuing to build up.
L.A. could potentially get back Roki Sasaki around the end of August as well. However, Tony Gonsolin remains shut down from throwing and it’s fair to wonder if he will able to contribute again this season.
Dustin May feels ‘healthy’
Despite not consistently getting positive results on the mound, May feels as good as he has in recent memory.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to feel healthy and go pitch and compete,” May said last month. “Just trying to remember what it felt like in 2019, when I was able to throw a full season and get all of the reps under my belt.
“It’s kind of hard to feel the same things, because it’s a different body and it’s a different way that I feel now than I did then. But it’s a good thing to build off of.”
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