Dodgers: 3 options to keep the closer spot warm if Kenley Jansen isn’t ready

Dodgers who could fill in for Kenley Jansen at closer: Dustin May

This is an intriguing option, especially since the Dodgers will be carrying extra pitchers on their roster to start the regular season. Teams are allowed to carry 30 players for the first two weeks of the schedule. If manager Dave Roberts wants to provide top prospect Dustin May regular work without putting him in the rotation, perhaps the closing role is a good spot for him.

May was already hitting 99 MPH on the radar gun in summer camp this week. He has electric stuff to mow down hitters at the end of a game. Imagine a 6-foot-6 right-hander barreling down on opponents with a heavy sinker and nasty curveball to keep them off balance.

The 22-year-old made his major league debut last season, appearing in 14 games (10 in relief) and pitched to a 3.63 ERA with strong underlying numbers contributing to his 2.90 FIP (fielding independent pitching). His sinker produced a 44.4% ground ball rate and when hitters did get lift on the ball, May mostly kept them in the ballpark with a 7.4% HR/FB rate.

If the Dodgers have to go a short while without Kenley in the back of the pen, perhaps no other option would be more exciting than seeing Dustin May get the final three outs.