Dustin May Frustrated By ‘Progressively Worse’ Starts Since Returning

The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t able to hold off the San Diego Padres in a 5-4 loss in extra innings on Friday night, and Dustin May took the good with the bad as he tries to work into form since returning from Tommy John surgery.

In what was his second consecutive start against the Padres, May tossed five innings while allowing five hits and four runs (three earned), including a pivotal three-run home run to Trent Grisham in the second inning. In his two outings against the Padres, May has allowed a combined nine runs on nine hits, while walking eight.

May dealt with the rain for a large portion of his start on Friday, but as evidenced by three walks, there were some control issues.

“I felt like the command was alright. I just got a little squirrely in the second inning,” said May. “I was just kind of throwing stuff not really where I wanted to, but outside of that I felt it was definitely half of a step in the right direction from the last one.”

May’s feel for the zone has varied and after getting strike one on just half the batters he faced in the series opener, a struggling but veteran Padres lineup made for a tedious battle. As May continues to work back towards a Major league workload, speed bumps are to be expected.

“I wouldn’t say frustrated. I’m putting myself in a lot of bad situations, getting behind in counts and not fielding my position,” May said. “That’s definitely got to be better.”

After allowing just one earned run over 11 total innings in back-to-back starts against the Miami Marlins prior to twice facing the Padres, May is trying to find some silver lining.

“They’ve gotten progressively worse, but this one was better than the last one,” he said. “So I’ve just got to build off of that.”

Through four starts, May is 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA, 5.11 FIP and 1.19 WHIP. His next start is lined up to be a road matchup with the San Francisco Giants.

Dave Roberts believes Dustin May learned valuable lessons against Padres

Although May struggled his first time facing the Padres, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts felt there was some benefit to that and he remains confident in the right-hander moving forward.

May looks like a pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery and is shaking off the dust from such a long layoff against Major league hitters, which is perfectly fine given the Dodgers’ massive lead in the National League West.