Dodgers' Dustin May 'Sucked' Against Royals According to Himself
Dodgers' Dustin May 'Sucked' Against Royals According to Himself originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It has been an up-and-down return to the mound for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May.
Advertisement
After undergoing flexor tendon surgery in July of 2023 and missing the rest of 2024 with a torn esophagus, May was an exciting addition to this already stacked Dodgers team. However, his 4.68 ERA, 4.68 FIP, and 75 strikeouts to 35 walks over 82 and 2/3 innings have not been quite up to his career output.
May's most recent outing saw him go four innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while walking three, striking out three, and letting up one home run against the Kansas City Royals. Los Angeles would win 5-4, but May did not feel much better about his performance.
Here is what May told reporters after the game:
'It sucks that I had to go out and suck, but it's a good thing our guys can score some runs.'
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May (85) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
May should still have a long leash after such a brutal stint of injuries. He is also only 27 years old and has all the talent in the world to develop into a dominant starting pitcher.
Advertisement
On the other hand, his fastball velocity has dropped from its 98 mph peak to around 94.4 mph this season. Perhaps this is who he will be in the wake of all those injuries. May has also relied far more heavily on his sweeper (42% of pitches) than ever before.
His frustrations are justified, and hopefully for the Dodgers, he can rediscover some of that 2020 campaign magic, which saw him finish fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting with a 2.57 ERA, a 4.62 FIP, and 44 strikeouts to 16 walks over 56 innings.
Related: Dodgers' Offseason Addition Becoming Key Part of Success
Related: Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández Reveals Reason For Home Run Derby Decision
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
Dante Fabbro re-signs with Blue Jackets for 4 years, avoids free agency
Dante Fabbro, who found a home on the Columbus Blue Jackets' top defensive pair after he was claimed off waivers early last season, is staying put. The Blue Jackets and Fabbro agreed to a four-year, $16.5 million contract on Sunday, keeping Fabbro in the fold just two days before he would have become an unrestricted free agent in a market in which right-side defensemen will be in high demand. Advertisement The deal carries a $4.125 salary cap hit. Fabbro has a no-trade clause in the first year of the deal. Fabbro was No. 15 on The Athletic's free-agency Big Board, sandwiched between fellow defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Ryan Lindgren. 'Dante was a great addition to our team last season, and keeping him in Columbus was a priority,' Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said in a statement. 'He is a smart, versatile defenseman who moves the puck well and can play in all situations. We are thrilled he will continue to be an important part of our club.' FOUR MORE YEARS OF FABS! 🥳 We've signed defenseman Dante Fabbro to a 4-year contract extension! 📝 — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 29, 2025 Fabbro, who turned 27 on June 20, was the Nashville Predators' first-round pick in 2016. He saw time alongside Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi but never quite broke out, which undoubtedly played a part Nashville's decision to place him on waivers. Fabbro was claimed by the Blue Jackets on Nov. 10. He made his debut two nights later in a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken and immediately slotted next to Zach Werenski on the top pair. He played 62 games in Columbus, setting career-highs with nine goals, 26 points and a plus-23 rating. The Blue Jackets now face a tough decision with veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov, who was second on the Blue Jackets in ice time (23:21) and second among defensemen in scoring with 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists). Provorov and the Blue Jackets have been discussing the framework of a contract since last spring, but haven't been able to come to terms. Provorov, 28, is looking for a long-term contract, and the Blue Jackets may be uncomfortable going past a five-year term.
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Pirates reliever Dennis Santana begins serving 3-game suspension for confrontation with a fan
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana will serve a three-game suspension, reduced from four, for an altercation with a fan during a game at the Detroit Tigers on June 19. The suspension went into immediate effect, beginning Sunday with the finale of a three-game home series against the New York Mets. Santana will also sit against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday and Tuesday before being eligible to return in the finale of that series Wednesday. Santana, in the second game of a June 19 doubleheader, was seen in videos posted on social media pointing out the fan to a police officer before jumping and swinging at the person who was in the front row above Pittsburgh's bullpen at Comerica Park. After jumping at the fan, Santana was escorted away by Pirates bullpen personnel and held back by a teammate. Santana later got the first out of the ninth inning before a rain delay stopped what became an 8-4 Pirates win in 10 innings. 'You guys know me and I'm a calm-demeanor type of person,' Santana said after that game through an interpreter. 'I've never had any issues with any of the teams that I've played for and I guess the guy crossed the line a few times. I would not like to go into it.' Santana, a 29-year-old right-hander, is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and five saves in 36 games this season. He has allowed one hit in 4 2/3 innings across four appearances since the day of the incident. In a 9-2 win over the Mets on Saturday, Santana struck out two with one walk in 1 2/3 innings. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
White Sox place outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on injured list and reinstate pitcher Jonathan Cannon
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left hamstring strain and reinstated right-handed pitcher Jonathan Cannon from the 15-day injured list. Cannon is scheduled to start Sunday's game against San Francisco. Robert, who was an All-Star in 2023, was injured Wednesday during Chicago's 7-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is hitting .185 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 73 games. The Sox said they will make a corresponding roster move Tuesday before their series opener at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cannon went on the injured list June 3 with a lower back strain and threw three shutout innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Charlotte. He is 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA in 12 games, including 10 starts, this season. In a corresponding move, Chicago optioned right-hander Wikelman González (0-0, 4.50 ERA) to Charlotte. ___ AP MLB:
