GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dustin May could be forgiven if he greeted word of Trevor Bauer’s signing with the Dodgers as less than great news.
One of the top pitching prospects in baseball last season, May started on Opening Day for the Dodgers and went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA over 12 regular-season appearances (including 10 starts, tied for the team lead), breaking the “filth-meter” and going viral when he overpowered Padres All-Star Manny Machado during one start.
Having served his apprenticeship, May (and fellow young right-hander Tony Gonsolin) would have his spot secured in 29 starting rotations around MLB. But Bauer’s addition to an already deep starting rotation could mean the 23-year-old May will be on the outside looking in with the Dodgers this season.
“I was excited,” May said of his reaction when Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, signed with the Dodgers. “I mean, it’s always fun adding a Cy Young winner into the rotation. But it puts more pressure on me to go out and get a spot. … There’s a lot of guys to fill not very many spots so I gotta go out and I gotta fight for it.”
Given health for all involved, the Dodgers’ season-opening rotation figures to include Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, David Price, Julio Urias and Bauer with May and Gonsolin shuffled off to the bullpen or possibly back to Triple-A to continue as starters.
“I’m gonna be ready for whatever role they put me in whether it be starting or relieving,” May said. “I’m excited. I mean, it doesn’t really matter what role I’m in as long as I’m up and helping the club win ballgames.”
May’s diplomatic answer is the appropriate response. But the truth is slightly different – it does matter to him.
“I’m fighting for a spot,” he said. “We have eight guys to fill five roles. … I have to go out and do everything I can to get one of them. That’s my goal – to be on the Opening Day roster as a starter. So I have to do everything in my power to go out there and achieve it.”
May and Gonsolin both seemed unsettled by being shifted into hybrid roles in the postseason. Their 20 combined innings were spread out over three starts each (only one of which lasted past the second inning) and five relief appearances.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledges being aware of the potential damage an extended apprenticeship or unclear role could do to the psyche of a young player.
“It’s certainly a high bar when you pitch for the Dodgers and you’re on our roster,” Roberts said. “These guys are very competitive. They expect a lot from themselves – which they should. But I think, for me, just kind of keeping the lines of communication open, encouraging them to continue to get better each day. The reality is we just don’t know how things are going to play out. So I think that right now what we can control and our focus is to keep these guys healthy, continue to build them up as starters and then, once we have to make that decision (about where they fit in), we’ll make it.”Over the past eight seasons, the Dodgers have used an average of 12 starting pitchers per season, leaving room for May and Gonsolin to contribute in that role at some point this season. The increased workload on pitching staffs going from 60 games last season to 162 this year could increase those opportunities.
“I just think that kind of will play out as it will down the road,” Roberts said. “But I think that the messaging is just continue to compete and get better each day. And, again, stay healthy, build up your innings. There’s always competition and that’s a good thing.”
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February 23, 2021 at 06:36AM
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Dustin May ‘excited’ to fight for spot in Dodgers’ crowded rotation - OCRegister
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