"Dustin May of the Dodgers shares his top priority following a month's comeback from injury"
L.A. Dodgers' Dustin May: A Rollercoaster Ride Post-Tommy John Surgery
The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are holding a slight edge in the NL West, the division championing the best baseball this season. With a record of 23-11, the Dodgers are a half-game ahead of the San Diego Padres, a testament to Dave Roberts' resilient squad.
Impressively, the Dodgers have managed to bag these wins despite battling injuries in their starting rotation. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, arguably the best in baseball this season, is in the running for the Cy Young. Yet, the Dodgers are yet to see Shohei Ohtani on the mound and have been grappling with Roki Sasaki's struggles.
Returning from the injury bench, Dustin May needs to find a steady groove if he aims for a prominent postseason role. After his Tommy John surgery, May's return has been erratic. "[There were] ups and downs," he admitted to Rick Farlow of MLB.com. "There were a couple of good moments and a couple of really bad ones. I definitely need to be more consistent."
Following a rocky outing against the Atlanta Braves, May posted a 4-3 loss. In that game, he threw 5.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits, including two home runs. Despite the rough patch, the stats suggest a pitcher who's struggling to find consistency, but is also far from being a liability. In six starts, May has a 4.36 ERA, 28 strikeouts to 14 walks, and spans 33 innings. He has three decisions in those six starts, with a 1-2 record.
As the Dodgers inch towards a healthier rotation, it's unclear how Roberts plans to manage his strong pitching ensemble. May, though, finding some more consistent control, will make the Dodgers a formidable force as they navigate the 2025 season.
Insights:- After his surgery, May had a standout outing against the Colorado Rockies in April 2025, allowing only one earned run on three hits in six innings, with seven strikeouts[3][5].- May's May 10 outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks showed improvement, going 6 2/3 innings with two runs allowed on seven hits and one walk, striking out five. This was his longest outing in the 2025 season so far[1][2][4].
Context:- Although May had a rough patch, his May 10 outing was a bounceback, demonstrating his endurance and effectiveness post-surgery[2].- May has been able to pitch at least six innings multiple times this season, a valuable asset given the team's reliance on the bullpen[2].
In summary, Dustin May's post-Tommy John surgery 2025 season has seen its fair share of highs and lows. While his overall ERA and run support issues have affected his win-loss record, his quality starts and ability to pitch deep into games are promising signs of his returning form[1][2][3].
- As Dustin May continues to work on his consistency, his performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 10 shows an improvement, with an outing of 6 2/3 innings, two runs allowed, and five strikeouts.
- Despite the challenges and inconsistency in his post-Tommy John surgery season, Dustin May's ability to pitch at least six innings multiple times this season is a valuable asset for the Dodgers, given their reliance on the bullpen.
- The Dodgers, with their heavy betting odds in the MLB due to their strong starting rotation and inches towards a healthier team, will find a formidable force with Dustin May, if he can find a steady groove and return to his pre-injury form, contributing to their odds in the sports.
