Dodgers: Dustin May injured, replacements hard to find

On a 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the second inning against the Brewers, Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May may have thrown his last pitch of the season. After a 94 mile per hour fastball, May immediately grimaced and started favoring his throwing arm.

Early indications from the Dodgers are that May experiencing a shooting sensation in his arm right after the fastball. May will receive an MRI when the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Chicago to take on the Cubs.

Replacing Dustin May easier said than done for Dodgers

May has been consistently good for the Dodgers in four starts. His season debut consisted of six shutout innings against the Oakland Athletics while only allowing two hits and two walks while racking up eight strikeouts. In May’s second start, he weathered some dangerous territory against the Colorado Rockies.

He only last 4 1/3 innings but he scattered seven hits and only gave up two runs. His six strikeouts and one walk added to his stellar K/BB ratio. In starts against the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, May struck out a total of 18 batters while only walking one each game.

Replacing Dustin May is going to be a tall task and it is safe to assume, based on preliminary information, the Dodgers may be searching for a long-term replacement in their rotation. Adding to the difficulty of replacing a high-caliber pitcher like May is a rash of injuries Dodgers starts have experienced thus far. One replacement, Tony Gonsolin, has been on the injured list with a shoulder ailment and cannot return until May 15th. With May’s next turn on May 6th, the Dodgers will have to find a pitcher to take the bump at least twice before Gonsolin is eligible to return.

Considering injuries and lack of experience above Single-A on the 40-man roster, pitcher Edwin Uceta makes the most sense to take over for Dustin May; at least in the short term. Uceta has one start under his belt, albeit a terrible one against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 30th. Uceta only lasted two innings as the opener in the April 30th game. The righty gave up two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out two. In the minors, Uceta has amassed a 363/105 K/BB ratio in 331 innings.

Despite being optioned back to the taxi squad immediately after his major league debut, Uceta deserves another chance or two while the extent of Dustin May’s injury is figured out. It is a perfect opportunity for Uceta to take advantage of as Tony Gonsolin continues to make progress in his comeback from a shoulder strain.