Dustin May will carry a fresh October assignment into Petco Park on Tuesday night, with the Brewers holding a chance to close out the National League Division Series against the Padres. For the 29-year-old right-hander, Game 3 is more than a start in a best-of-five set. It is an opportunity to turn a difficult first stretch in Milwaukee into a clean postseason page.
A new club, a short runway
Milwaukee acquired May from the Cardinals at the Trade Deadline, bringing left-handed reliever JoJo Romero with him. The move gave May a new catcher, new teammates and a new pitching group at a point when his command was already searching for consistency.
In 10 regular-season starts for the Brewers, May went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA. His walk rate rose from 7.6 percent with St. Louis to 9.3 percent after the trade, leaving him and Milwaukee’s staff to make adjustments on the fly.
- May joined pitching coach Chris Hook, assistant pitching coach Juan Sandoval and Major League pitching coordinator Jim Henderson after the season was already underway.
- He works with a six-pitch arsenal built mainly around power, including a four-seam fastball averaging 96.9 mph, a sinker and a cutter.
- Milwaukee has focused on making the plan simpler, from pitch usage against left- and right-handed hitters to getting May back into the strike zone.
“When the postseason begins, everybody knows it is basically a blank slate,” May said during Monday’s workout at Petco Park.
Henderson said the staff has been trying to keep May from doing too much with premium velocity. The goal, he said, is to learn what works for a pitcher they have not known long and help him return to attacking the zone.
“Dustin has done some really good things,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s experienced. I really believe that he’s really tough on himself and very critical and wants to get it right. The best version of him is really good.”
Recent work has May feeling ready
May’s final regular-season outing came Sept. 26 against his former Cardinals club. He allowed two runs over three innings, struck out five and received the decision in Milwaukee’s 3-2 victory.
During the Brewers’ break through the National League Wild Card round, May stayed active with a simulated game and bullpen work. He believes those sessions have helped bring a few things into focus.
“We’ve kind of nailed some things in this last week or so,” May said. “Hopefully, stuff comes to a little bit of better fruition tomorrow.”
Asked whether that work had raised his confidence for Tuesday, May did not hesitate: “Absolutely. I’m feeling good, ready to go.”
Familiar ground against San Diego
Murphy’s decision was set before Milwaukee’s 4-3 walk-off win in Game 2 on Sunday, a result that put the club within one victory of advancing. May was chosen partly for his playoff background and partly for an extensive history against the Padres.
| May vs. Padres | Career mark |
|---|---|
| Record | 3-5 |
| ERA | 3.14 |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Starts | 13 |
| Innings pitched | 86 |
The 86 innings are 50 more than May has logged against any other opponent; Arizona is second on that list. In three starts against San Diego this season, he posted a 1.23 ERA over 22 innings. On June 15, while still with St. Louis, he authored a one-hit complete-game shutout against the Padres, walking one and striking out nine.
May’s previous postseason appearance came as a Dodgers reliever in Game 5 of the 2020 World Series. Henderson believes May’s experience in the National League West, and his familiarity with Petco Park’s mound and atmosphere, can provide a measure of comfort.
There is a counterpoint: San Diego will see him for the fourth time this year. May said he intends to lean on current scouting and offer the Padres a look that does not fit their preferred attack.
“I’m going to go in with the best attack plan that I kind of have scouting these guys and seeing what they’ve been doing recently,” May said. “I’m just going to come in and try and do what they’re not. Excited for the opportunity.”
Harrison sees the talent still there
Left-hander Kyle Harrison, another Milwaukee trade addition who could be available behind May out of the bullpen, understands the challenge of processing new instruction. Harrison arrived from the Red Sox on Feb. 9, however, giving him a full Spring Training and regular season with the Brewers’ coaches.
May has had no such runway. Still, Harrison said his teammate has handled the volume of information well and has the raw tools to make a difference in October.
“He and I have kind of fallen into that same boat of the stuff’s there but the results haven’t been there, per se,” Harrison said. “But he’s got good stuff. I’m just excited to see him fill it up and compete, and that’s what he’s good at doing.”
Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT and 6:30 p.m. PT, with FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One carrying the broadcast.
