The Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to keep right-handed pitcher Dustin May in their starting rotation as the second half of the season begins. After missing nearly two years due to flexor tendon and Tommy John revision surgeries followed by an emergency esophageal tear repair, May returned to the mound this season and has been able to maintain his health during his sixth major league campaign. The focus now is on how May will contribute moving forward in the Dodgers’ pitching lineup.
While May struggled with some inconsistency in the first half, recording a 4.96 ERA, 4.78 FIP, and 1.35 WHIP across 17 starts, he reached a new personal milestone by pitching 94.1 innings this year. There has been speculation that May could transition to a bullpen role to better manage his workload, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that he will begin the second half still as a starter.
“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 appear to be waiting on the return of left-handed starter Blake Snell before considering any changes to May’s role. Snell is currently on a rehab assignment and could rejoin the rotation within the next two weeks. His comeback, along with recent returns such as Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani’s continued development, is expected to strengthen the Dodgers’ pitching staff considerably.
Additionally, L.A. could gain further rotation depth if Roki Sasaki returns by late August. On the other hand, Tony Gonsolin remains sidelined with no clear timetable for his return, raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of the season.
Dustin May Reports Feeling Healthy Despite Early Season Challenges
Although May’s results haven’t always met expectations, the pitcher says he feels healthier than he has in recent years, a crucial factor in his ability to perform going forward. Returning from multiple surgeries has made physical recovery challenging, but May is optimistic about regaining his form.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to feel healthy and go pitch and compete,”
May said last month. He added that he is trying to recall the stamina and rhythm he had during the 2019 season when he was able to pitch a full year and get consistent repetitions.
“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.”
May’s renewed health is a positive sign for the Dodgers as they rely on strong pitching performances in the stretch run, and keeping him in the starting rotation reflects their belief in his ability to contribute effectively.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Dustin May’s throat?
A. Even those incidents seemed minor compared to the serious danger May faced last summer. While dining with his wife and friends, he tore his esophagus. This injury required immediate surgery. At the time, he was finishing a rehab program at the Dodgers’ training facility at Camelback Ranch.
Q. What happened to Dustin May’s esophagus?
A. While eating dinner with his wife and friends, he tore his esophagus, and needed immediate surgery. This happened just as he was finishing rehab at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch training facility. The issue started when a piece of salad got lodged in his throat.