May’s sizzling begin on the hill a boon for Dodgers

PHOENIX — Coming into the season, the Dodgers had some inquiries to reply within the beginning rotation behind ace Julio Urías and certain future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

Tony Gonsolin was a first-time All-Star final season, however has change into harm susceptible over the previous few seasons. Noah Syndergaard has a observe document of being efficient, however remains to be looking for his outdated dominance. The rotation was going to be a power, but it surely was anticipated to be the beginning workers with essentially the most questions in latest reminiscence.

Through two begins, nevertheless, Dustin May has answered nearly all of these questions. May, the Dodgers’ third-round choose within the 2016 MLB Draft, continued his sturdy begin to the season, permitting one run over six dominant innings in a 5-2 series-opening win over the D-backs on Thursday at Chase Field.

“I think with Dustin, it’s the quality of strikes,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “This is as clean and consistent of a throwing delivery that he’s had, which is allowing for the ball to move late in the hitting zone. So with that, he’s going to be efficient, because guys are gonna want to swing the bat early against him. I think for us, just being able to allow him to go deep in games like he has been, that’s a tell for his success.”

It was the D-backs’ dwelling opener, and a sold-out crowd was able to welcome the house crew with loads of cheers. But it was the group of Dodgers followers that made essentially the most noise, largely due to May’s efficiency.

The Dodgers jumped out to a fast lead following Chris Taylor’s RBI single within the second inning. In the third, the Dodgers added two extra on an error and a J.D. Martinez RBI double. They tacked on a pair of runs later within the sport, together with a Freddie Freeman solo homer, his first of the season and the Dodgers’ 14th in seven video games to start out the marketing campaign (second solely to the Giants’ 15).

That was greater than sufficient for May to settle in and choose up his second win over the D-backs in as many begins. May struck out the primary two batters he confronted and retired the primary 5 earlier than Jake McCarthy’s two-out single within the second inning. Outside of an Alek Thomas stroll within the third, that’s about all of the D-backs’ offense was capable of put collectively towards May till the sixth, when Josh Rojas hit an RBI double.

Rojas’ double got here on May’s cutter, the primary hit towards May whereas utilizing the pitch this season. Entering the night time, the cutter had been utilized by May 11 instances, recording two strikeouts and nil base hits. It’s a pitch that has already been simpler for May than it was final season, permitting him to pair it along with his sinker and four-seamer, pitches that routinely contact triple digits.

“I’m going to go out and do what I’m going to do,” May stated. “It’s going to be good or it’s gonna be bad. It has nothing to do with what people think about me. I’m just gonna do what I do.”

Before May suffered a torn UCL in May 2021, the right-hander seemed poised to reside as much as the big hype that surrounded him as the highest pitching prospect within the Majors. But after lacking over 16 months rehabbing the harm, it was unclear simply how efficient May may very well be this season.

In his first two begins, May has allowed one run and punched out 9 over 13 innings of labor. He’ll must proceed it towards some more durable lineups within the league, however May’s sturdy begin offers the Dodgers extra confidence in what they will accomplish this season.

Through seven video games this season, the Dodgers’ beginning workers has a 1.76 ERA, the bottom within the National League.

“Electric stuff,” Freeman said of May. “For him to come out and do that in the first two starts, it’s just a huge confidence boost for him, and obviously huge for us. I faced him pre-Tommy John. It’s not fun. You’ve got 100 mph sinkers and 95 mph cutters and when he can throw strikes like he is right now, that’s huge.”