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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Dustin May's uneven season continues for Dodgers in critical start just ahead of deadline
BOSTON — On contact, Dustin May arched his head and back toward the sky in disgust. He knew he'd been had. The Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander's critical Sunday afternoon had come apart in a span of just three pitches in the fifth inning, silenced with an emphatic statement on a ball that Alex Bregman sent over the Green Monster. What looked to be a strong outing instead was just another frustrating one. Advertisement This is how it's gone for May this season. His body has finally cooperated after years in the injury wilderness, as his first inning Sunday against the Boston Red Sox marked the first time in his career he's cleared 100 innings in a major-league season. The effectiveness has been there in tantalizing spurts. Sunday, it was a stretch of five strikeouts in a span of six batters almost immediately before it all fell apart in the fifth. He left a cutter over the plate when he wanted to get it in on Abraham Toro, who singled. Dalton Rushing set up low and away for a first-pitch fastball to Roman Anthony. May left that over the plate, so the Red Sox rookie lofted a fly ball high off the 37-foot wall. Michael Conforto made a mess of it, getting too close to the wall, so the ball bounced over his head and Anthony wound up on third with a triple. Rushing set up away to start Bregman with a breaking ball. May's first pitch broke right onto Bregman's barrel instead. Bregman sent it an estimated 400 feet onto Lansdowne Street. 'It just sort of kind of opened up a little bit on him,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. The Red Sox wouldn't surrender the lead, knocking off the Dodgers 4-3. Los Angeles wasn't without chances to score — the Dodgers left the bases loaded in the third inning, two on in the fourth and stranded a season-high 13 hitters on base. They spoiled the best offensive day of Conforto's season. But May had a lead when the fifth began and a chance to rewrite the story of his season. Instead, it was more of the same. 'Just left too much stuff over the middle,' May said. 'Just not quality strikes. I felt good. Mechanics were in a good spot. Just didn't execute in the fifth.' 'He threw the baseball well,' Roberts said of May, who allowed four runs in five innings. 'The line score doesn't show that.' Dustin May strikes out the side! — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 27, 2025 He needed this one to be better. Through 19 appearances this season, he has a 4.85 ERA. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings this season, that's 13th-worst in baseball. There's no good time to have a figure that high, but that is especially the case now for May. He's a free agent at year's end. The Dodgers' rotation is getting healthy, with Blake Snell expected to rejoin the group next week in Tampa. Roberts has been candid that May is battling Emmet Sheehan for what is essentially one spot in the starting rotation. May shot down the question when asked if that entered his thinking. Advertisement 'It's up to them to go out there and pitch well and force our hand as far as decisions,' Roberts said Friday night. 'Ultimately, players make the decisions for themselves, right? And that's performance.' Los Angeles has also been open to discussing May in trade discussions before Thursday's trade deadline, league sources said. May's stuff is still intriguing enough, and he could move to a starting pitching-starved contender in exchange for position player depth if a team talks itself into him. Or, he could move into the bullpen in hopes he can find something and bolster a group the team is looking to upgrade. Either way, Sunday could have been an inflection point. The Dodgers still don't quite know what is next. 'I don't know yet,' Roberts said Sunday morning of what's next for May. The Dodgers have until Thursday to decide. 'We'll kind of push it down the line a little bit,' Roberts said. 'But in all honesty, things seem to change a lot in each week. So I think that right now I don't want to put anyone into a corner right now. We'll just kind of read and react after this start.' Sunday did not mark a compelling argument in May's favor. His command wasn't sharp enough, with all three hits in the fifth inning coming on misses on pitches he was aiming to throw to his glove side. Even when he was effective in the middle innings, May's day came with warning signs: It took him 43 pitches to get his swing-and-miss when Jarren Duran half-swung at a sweeper for a strikeout. The spurt of dominance that followed was erased quickly. 'I feel like it's been like that for a lot of my outings,' May said. 'I feel like I get to a good spot, then I can't get through one inning. One inning blowup. It's not a fun feeling, but I know the good stuff is in there. It's just a matter of eliminating the one bad inning.' Perhaps a day like Sunday could have shifted that narrative and some of his responsibilities along the way. Instead, May left Fenway Park with even more uncertainty.
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dodgers Manager Expects Rookie Backstop To Be 'Superstar' In MLB
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers have stars littered across the diamond and hold Major League Baseball's best record entering Monday. But even with the current stars at Chavez Ravine, the future looks bright for the young bucks moving through the Dodgers system. CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 27: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a pitch in the fourth inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 27, 2025... CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 27: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a pitch in the fourth inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. More Photo byDodgers skipper Dave Roberts believes that rookie catcher Dalton Rushing will be a 'superstar' in Major League Baseball, according to Gabe Smallson of Dodgers Nation. "He feels that he's going to be a superstar," Roberts said about Rushing. "I love him in the box. He's very confident. He controls the hitting zone, and he's going to be a good one for a long time." Rushing has been below league average at the plate for the Dodgers this season, but he has only played in 18 games in the big leagues and has plenty of time for his young career to flourish. Rushing is batting .212 in 52 at-bats for the Dodgers this season. Rushing was the Dodgers' top prospect last year, according to MLB Pipeline but is stuck behind catcher Will Smith, who is batting .318 with 10 home runs so far this year. Entering Monday, Smith is the National League leader in batting average. The future is cloudy for Rushing as he will have to break through the barrier Smith has set up around the catching position for the Dodgers, or the Dodgers will have to use him as an asset in a trade to bolster their star-studded roster even more. Rushing has a bright future in the eyes of Roberts, but with Smith signed through 2033, it is hard to believe Rushing's future is in Los Angeles. More MLB: Blue Jays Top Destination For Rebounding Rangers Starting Pitcher
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Dodgers World Series Champion Lands a Deal With Divisional Rival on Sunday
Former Dodgers World Series Champion Lands a Deal With Divisional Rival on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the Los Angeles Dodgers turn towards younger prospects while continuing their pursuit of repeating as World Series champions in 2025, some well-known names haven't been with the team this season. Advertisement Former Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes was given the unfortunate news that Los Angeles was moving on from him on May 14, as he was released alongside Chris Taylor in a week's span. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) celebrates with designated hitter Chris Taylor (3) after scoring in the fifth inning as Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) reacts at Dodger Lee-Imagn Images Los Angeles called up 2022 second-round pick Dalton Rushing earlier this season, showing that manager Dave Roberts was in pursuit of a different option at the catching position. All-Star Will Smith has a secure position on the roster with his $140 million contract, so Austin Barnes, who was the guy on the hot seat, was let go to make Rushing the replacement for a struggling Barnes moving forward. Austin Barnes would then take on free agency, and after over a month of searching for a new team to land on, it's been announced that the two-time World Series champion signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. After serving his entire 11-year career with the Dodgers, Barnes will continue his baseball journey with Los Angeles' division rival. Advertisement Although Barnes sigend a minor league deal, he wil start with the Giants' Arizona Complex League team to get back into playing shape. He will likely be inserted into the Giants' 40-man roster sometime this season and provide depth for them in a struggling catcher position. The two catchers the Giants have on roster, Patrick Bailey and Andrew Knizner, have both been struggling to find a groove this 2025 season. Bailey currently has a .194 BA and Knizner has a .103 BA, so Austin Barnes will likely have a chance at appearing on the 40-man roster sometime within the season. In the 42 at-bats Barnes appeared in for the Dodgers this season, he posted a .214 BA, .233 OBP, .286 SLG, and a .518 OPS while hitting two RBI. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers Predicted to Quickly Replace Dalton Rushing With Luke Stevenson
Dodgers Predicted to Quickly Replace Dalton Rushing With Luke Stevenson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers have the 40th and 41st picks in the 2025 MLB draft. The Dodgers only have two supplemental first-round pick, with none in the first 27 picks because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold. Advertisement When looking at who they could select, recently predicted that they'd land on a catcher, which would be a somewhat questionable decision with Will Smith and Dalton Rushing now up. predicted them to draft Luke Stevenson, the 33rd-ranked prospect in the 2025 MLB draft. Stevenson, a catcher out of North Carolina, has shown off some big-time power in his bat. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) hits a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images 'Stevenson could have signed for top-five-rounds money as a North Carolina high schooler in 2023. He opted instead to stay local and play for the Tar Heels, claimed North Carolina's starting job as a freshman and slammed 14 homers before playing with the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He went deep 19 times this spring as a sophomore and is one of the best catching prospects available, though he comes with some questions about his hitting ability after posting a .251 batting average and 24 percent strikeout rate,' they wrote. Advertisement A Team USA alum, Stevenson did nothing but swing the bat at a very high level throughout his time at North Carolina. He's regarded as one of the top power hitters in the draft, and arguably the best catcher. If the Dodgers want to take the best player available at pick 40, there's reason to believe he could be the option. He only played in two seasons at North Carolina and hit 33 home runs, posting a .960 OPS. Related: Dodgers' Dave Roberts Gives Update on Tyler Glasnow's Return This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani is sharp in two innings but Dodgers fall to Royals
Shohei Ohtani delivered the fastest pitch of his career — 101.7 mph — during the second inning against the Royals on Saturday in Kansas City. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press) Three batters into his third start of the year on Saturday, Shohei Ohtani showed some brief frustration. With one out in the first inning — on a day he was trying to pitch into the second for the first time this year — Ohtani gave up a line drive single to Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. Then, he walked Maikel Garcia on five pitches in the next at-bat, pulling four straight throws low and to the glove side to put two aboard. Advertisement As Ohtani received the ball back from catcher Dalton Rushing, he wore a stoic look, seemingly displeased with his lack of execution. But he climbed back atop the mound, stared down the plate as Vinnie Pasquantino dug in, and absolutely bullied the Royals first baseman with three straight pitches. A 99.2 mph fastball on the inside corner for strike one. A 100.2 mph fastball on the inside black for strike two. Read more: Why Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have struggled at the plate lately for the Dodgers And then, a blistering 101.7 mph fastball — the hardest-thrown pitch of Ohtani's MLB career — that Pasquantino took a helpless hack at, grounding into a tailor-made, inning-ending double-play. Advertisement Just like that, Ohtani was locked back in. Though the Dodgers lost 9-5 to the Royals 9-5 on Saturday, Ohtani turned in his best pitching performance yet. After escaping the first-inning jam, he retired the side in the second. Over 27 pitches, he threw 20 strikes and got three swings-and-misses, including on a 100 mph fastball and late-biting slider to strike out Jac Caglianone in the second. Even over another small sample size, with Ohtani's workload still limited as he works his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, the right-hander flashed the dominant potential of his stuff, both lighting up the radar gun and unleashing a flurry of unhittable off-speed offerings in his most complete performance yet since resuming his two-way role. Things did not go well for the Dodgers (52-32) after Ohtani left the mound. Bulk man Ben Casparius gave up six runs in four innings, and now has a 7.82 ERA in his three outings piggybacking with Ohtani over the last three weeks. Advertisement He didn't get much help from his defense, either. In the third inning, Teoscar Hernández failed to get to a flare down the right-field line with two outs, extending the frame ahead of a two-run double from Witt in the next at-bat. Andy Pages also booted a ball in center field during a four-run rally from the Royals (39-44) in the fifth, a frame that was punctuated by a three-run, two-out homer from Pasquantino to center. The Dodgers' offense, meanwhile, never figured out crafty right-hander Seth Lugo, stranding all nine hitters who reached base against him (four hits and five walks) while striking out eight times. Even though Freddie Freeman snapped out of an extended slump with three hits, including a solo homer in the seventh inning, and two walks, the Dodgers never truly threatened to chip away at the lead until a four-run rally in the ninth, squandering a five-game winning streak to set up a series rubber match on Sunday. All of that, however, paled in comparison to the impressiveness of Ohtani's outing on the mound. Advertisement In his four innings so far this year, the 30-year-old has given up just one run and three hits. His fastball has routinely eclipsed 100 mph while his array of breaking stuff has kept opponents off balance. The Dodgers are still being careful with Ohtani's build-up, uncertain of when — or if — he will be fully stretched out for normal-length starts. But for now, the few innings he has contributed have been encouraging, quickly erasing any doubts about how his arm would respond from the second reconstructive elbow surgery of his career. Pitching injury updates It'll be a little while longer before the Dodgers get more pitching reinforcements from triple-A Oklahoma City. Advertisement On Saturday night, Tyler Glasnow gave up five runs on seven hits in his second rehab outing, but more consequentially managed only 2 ⅓ innings, well short of the four-inning goal the Dodgers had targeted for his start. Because of that, Roberts said Glasnow will likely need at least two more rehab starts before returning to the majors. He has been out since April because of a shoulder problem. Emmet Sheehan's next start will come in triple-A, Roberts said, even after the right-hander pitched six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts earlier this week. Sheehan returned from Tommy John surgery earlier this month with a solid four-inning start for the Dodgers, but was optioned ahead of this road trip to continue building up in Oklahoma City. Sheehan will be a candidate to return to the majors after his next outing, perhaps near the end of the Dodgers' upcoming homestand. Back in Los Angeles, Blake Snell (shoulder) and Blake Treinen (forearm) continued their progression of bullpen sessions on Saturday, and are getting closer to throwing live sessions against hitters. Roki Sasaki (shoulder) has also continued to play catch and, according to Roberts, is finally 'feeling really good' almost two months into his IL stint. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
