Dustin May remains among the candidates the Los Angeles Dodgers are considering to round out their starting rotation for the regular season, but he’s yet to appear in a Cactus League game since March 2.
May threw two innings out of the bullpen that night against the San Francisco Giants. He allowed one hit, issued a walk and collected two strikeouts. Although the young right-hander has been absent from Cactus League play, he’s kept active.
That included pitching in a “B” game on a backfield at Camelback Ranch. The purpose of that was to iron out some issues with mechanics. “I was just kind of falling down the mound instead of driving down the mound,” May explained.
“So just being able to stay on my back leg and get the force towards home that I need to.”
Getting May in a Minor League game also ensured he didn’t fall behind other pitchers with progression through Spring Training. “Just trying to keep my innings up and hopefully will be in a game sometime early [this] week,” he said.
“There wasn’t enough innings in the game behind Walker for me to be able to throw the three to four I was supposed to throw after him. Hopefully I’ll be able to get into a game sometime [this] week.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has since said May is starting Monday and is expected to go three innings.
Whether in a bullpen session, Minor League game or the Cactus League, May’s overall focus is improving his secondary pitches. “Just being able to land breaking balls and stay in the zone with everything,” he said.
“That’s been my biggest thing: is just being able to put anything offspeed in the zone. I feel like it’s getting closer to where I want it to be.”
May hopeful to be with Dodgers on Opening Day
Even if May does not make the starting rotation, Roberts did not rule out the possibility of him filling a bullpen role. May is a natural starter but remains open to pitching in any capacity.
“My main goal was just making the club Opening Day,” he said. “Hopefully I’m doing enough as we go forward to be able to do that, but that’s out of my control. Whatever role it is.”
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