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Dodgers Spring Training: Dustin May Shut Down Due To Lingering Side Injury

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

When Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training, there essentially were six candidates vying for the final two spots in the Opening Day rotation.

Though, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously suggested Julio Urias was likely to be part of the equation. That sentiment has been reiterated throughout camp, most recently by manager Dave Roberts.

So it’s left Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Jimmy Nelson, Ross Stripling and Alex Wood to compete for the final spot in the rotation. Wood has long considered it his, but the Dodgers have yet to give any such assurance — at least publicly.

Meanwhile, it appears May is fading from the competition as he has been unable to throw off a mound because of his lingering side injury, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:

Nelson was also slowed by a minor groin issue over recent weeks but he rebounded to resume throwing bullpen sessions.

Barring a surprise, May appears primed to begin the 2020 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Of course, that was shaping to be the likely outcome anyhow. Despite the Dodgers committing to Wood, he does figure to have the inside track on completing the rotation.

Thus, May’s outlook of making the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster would likely need to come as a member of the bullpen. However, Roberts indicated the club isn’t considering that possibility.

“I don’t see the bullpen role out of camp,” he said over the weekend. “Anything can happen, things can change, but obviously we view him as a starter. We’re going to continue to build him up as a starter. I just don’t see it making a whole lot of sense, as a young player, to put him in the ‘pen out of camp.

“We understand he’s done some really good things for us. We’re just encouraging Dustin to control what he can control. Right now it’s get healthy, get on the mound and build up that pitch count.”

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com