Dustin May’s Season-Ending Injury Puts Dodgers’ Pitching in a Bind
The Los Angeles Dodgers received devastating news on Tuesday as they announced that pitcher Dustin May will be out for the season. May, who hasn’t pitched since May 17, will undergo surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow. The 25-year-old had initially received a platelet-rich plasma injection to promote healing, but the procedure did not have the desired effect.
May’s surgery, scheduled for July 18, will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also performed his Tommy John surgery last year. In addition to repairing the flexor tendon, May will undergo a Tommy John revision for a Grade 2 sprain of his UCL. The Dodgers hope that May will be able to return to the mound next year.
May showed great promise this season, with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts before experiencing elbow discomfort during a game against the Twins. His absence is a major blow to the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, which is already dealing with the loss of Clayton Kershaw, who was placed on the injured list on Monday.
The Dodgers’ rotation has been plagued by injuries throughout the season. In total, seven members of the starting staff have spent time on the injured list, including May, Kershaw, and Julio Urías. The team has also been without Walker Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year. Urías has struggled with a 4.94 ERA in 11 starts this season, while Tony Gonsolin has seen a dip in performance with a 3.69 ERA.
To compensate for the injuries, the Dodgers have turned to rookie pitchers such as Michael Grove, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan. They also have pitching prospects Gavin Stone and Ryan Pepiot, although Pepiot has been sidelined with an oblique injury.
The Dodgers’ once-promising pitching rotation has now become a cause for concern. Kershaw’s ongoing shoulder trouble further adds to the team’s worries. Veterans like Urías and Gonsolin have underperformed, leaving too much pressure on the young and unproven arms on the roster.
Additionally, the trade market for starting pitchers is uncertain, with many teams reluctant to part with valuable assets as they contend for postseason spots. This presents a challenge for the Dodgers as they try to navigate through the rest of the season.
Despite the pitching woes, the Dodgers have managed to maintain a winning record, currently sitting at 47-37. However, their success in the postseason will depend on their ability to overcome injuries like May’s and find solutions to strengthen their rotation.
As the Dodgers face this difficult situation, it is clear that they will need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome this setback and continue their pursuit of another championship.