Prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers departing for Japan on Wednesday, manager Dave Roberts revealed Dustin May would be part of the team’s Opening Day starting rotation.
The right-hander had been competing with Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller for the fifth spot this spring. However, Gonsolin will begin the season on the 15-day injured list because of back trouble and Miller is still recovering from being struck in the head by a line-drive comebacker.
May is rounding out a star-studded Dodgers rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki.
Although the 27-year-old was named the Dodgers’ fifth starter, May is remaining at Camelback Ranch to continue his throwing program as opposed to traveling with the team to Tokyo, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“Dustin, sort of what we did last year with James Paxton, Dustin will stay back here so he can stay on his regular throwing program.”
Roberts is referring to when James Paxton remained in Arizona last spring to build up for the regular season rather than accompany the team on their trip to South Korea.
May staying at Camelback Ranch is feasible because he was not named a starter for any of the Dodgers’ games in Japan. Snell and Glasnow are scheduled to pitch in the exhibition games, and Yamamoto and Sasaki will start against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series.
Dustin May on comeback trail
May last pitched in a Major League game May 17, 2023. He went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 3.23 FIP and 0.94 WHIP in nine starts that year before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
May was on the verge of beginning a rehab assignment last year after recovering from a second right elbow surgery but required emergency esophageal surgery because of damage caused by a piece of lettuce that got lodged in his throat.
He pitched five innings over three Cactus League starts this year, with two of those being scoreless outings.
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