Los Angeles (News4usOnline) - With Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Emmet Sheehan all on the injured list, the Dodgers have had to rely far too much on a bullpen that is also breaking down. It is time for some familiar faces who have made their way off the injured list to step up.
Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May have all returned to the mound this season, and while the plan was initially to give them as much time as possible, plans change quickly during a 162-game season.
It is time for starters to do what starters do best: eat up innings.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) watches his go-ahead three-run home run during the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 21, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
"With all of those guys, I am going to push them. If you are looking at the bullpen, they have been pushed to the max and put in some tough spots," said Dave Roberts before May took the mound against the Diamondbacks.
"It is the role of the starter to protect their teammates. They have to give me the opportunity to give them the green light by being efficient, but I am going to really try and push these guys going forward to go deeper into games," Roberts added.
In May's eighth start of the season, he responded to Roberts' challenge, getting through six innings on a relatively efficient 88 pitches.
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The most encouraging part of May's outing was that he only walked one batter. He attacked all night, and while he gave up five hits, the damage was limited to only one run due to the low number of free baserunners. May came through with timely strikeouts and also overcame an error in the sixth inning, escaping unscathed.
"He gave himself an opportunity to get through that sixth inning by being efficient, staying in his delivery, and managing his emotions. I felt like that was the best he has thrown the baseball all year, and allowing our bullpen to reset going into a six-game round trip is pretty big," said Roberts.
May was in total control, striking out eight batters. He has struggled this season with early-inning walks that turn into runs, but he kept his composure throughout.
"It has been a long time since I have thrown eight starts, so it is getting back into coming in every day and getting my work in, and then being able to replicate stuff when I go out on the mound," said May.
To no surprise, Teoscar Hernandez was the hero, getting the Dodgers on the board and May's second win of the season. His sixth-inning, three-run homer, with two outs and two strikes, gave Los Angeles the lead for good and secured the series win over Arizona.
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"He relishes those spots. He is not afraid to fail and can manage his emotions. He can fend off a fastball and then slug secondary pitches. He can hit to all fields, and that is what you have to do to drive in runs, and if you look at baseball, he is in the elite class of driving in runs," said Roberts.
It is now up to Kershaw and Gonsolin to hold up their end of the bargain. You can never have enough starting pitching, and that theory is holding up right now in Los Angeles.
Kershaw was underwhelming in his first time on the mound this season, giving up five runs in four innings, but he should be able to figure it out. Gonsolin is 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA through four appearances.
Top Image: LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May (85) throws a pitch during the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 21, 2025 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
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