Dodgers: Dustin May delivers strong outing after earning more starts

The Dodgers sent Dustin May out for his second big league start on Wednesday after Dave Roberts made it known May will get more starts.

In Wednesday’s matinee win, the Dodgers sent their electric rookie Dustin May out to the mound in search of a sweep.  Prior to the game, Dave Roberts made it known that May will get at least one more start next week against the Miami Marlins.  Then the club will go from there are Ross Stripling and Hyun-Jin Ryu could be ready to return after that.

After an alright debut in which Dustin May showed flashes of why he is so highly touted, the rookie right-hander pitched even better on Wednesday.  May pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and seven strikeouts.  The lone run came on a solo blast by Marcell Ozuna in the sixth inning.  He left with runners on base that did not score.

After striking out just three in his debut, Dustin struck out seven Cardinals and pounded the strike zone.  He made 83 pitches and threw 61 strikes.  Forty-two of those pitches were his power sinker that topped out at 97.5 MPH.  May’s cutter was also very effective as it produced an average exit velocity of just 57 MPH.

The one thing that Dustin May will need to work in more is his curveball.  On Wednesday, May threw his curveball just six times and he will need to give batters a different look to keep them honest.  Particularly left-handed batters as May’s power sinker and cutter are good enough to get right-handed batters out without an off-speed pitch.

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Although the Dodgers optioned Tony Gonsolin to triple-A earlier this week, Dustin May is not facing the same fate.  With Rich Hill out until mid-September, the Dodgers might need to use a different fourth starter this postseason after Hill was a mainstay in the Dodgers’ playoff rotation the last two World Series runs.

In terms of stuff, there is nobody that should keep Dustin May from locking down a playoff spot whether that is as a starting pitcher or a reliever.  Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda are not better options than May as a fourth playoff starter and May’s stuff should play even better out of the bullpen if that is the role he is chosen for.

After the asking price for veteran relievers like Shane Greene and Felipe Vazquez was too high, the Dodgers are going through a youth movement of sorts with their pitching staff.  Dustin May is looking to bring his electric stuff to LA’s postseason roster after Walker Buehler made his presence felt last October.

Dustin May has the ability to be the big mid-season upgrade after Andrew Friedman decided the price wasn’t worth bringing in an outside addition.  The next few starts will be big for May’s potential role this October.