Oct 16, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third base Enrique Hernandez (8) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the New York Mets in the sixth inning during game three of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Dodgers Insider Says Dustin May Has ‘Inside Track’ for No. 5 Starter Spot
The Los Angeles Dodgers are still trying to sort out a few major roster decisions with just weeks to go before Opening Day.
The infield is not fully fleshed out — and that dictates what the outfield will look like — but a more pressing matter is what the Dodgers will do with all their pitching talent and only five spots in the rotation.
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The locks so far are (in no particular order) Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, and international phenom Roki Sasaki. There are quite a few candidates for the fifth spot.
Tony Gonsolin is one name who is a serious contender. The 2022 All-Star hasn’t touched the mound since August 2023, but looks healthy and ready to make an impact in 2025.
Another name who hasn’t seen MLB action since May 2023 is Dustin May.
May underwent a flexor tendon surgery in 2023 and as he was approaching a return to the mound last summer, he suffered a torn esophagus on a rogue piece of lettuce. This sidelined him indefinitely.
The 27-year-old May has been looking sharp in spring training so far, but Gonsolin also has starter caliber stiff. Dodgers insider Jose Mota revealed to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain who he believes will earn the fifth spot in the rotation.
“Tough call but I think overall if somebody has the edge in my opinion, I think it’s Dustin May,” Mota said to McKain on Dodgers Dougout Live.
Mota noted the differences between the two, but how Gonsolin may have more of an edge as a reliever, which would spell the final starting spot for May.
“Now obviously the question is health, right,” said Mota. “I think on the mental side, on the physical side, [May] is beyond that and I would say he has an inside track with being a starter because Tony [Gonsolin], as good as he is, he was an All-Star went 16-1 just a couple of years ago, let’s not forget about Tony Gonsolin, Tony can help you more maybe in the middle of a game.”
Whatever happens with these pitchers returning from their respective injuries, both look healthy and ready to contribute to the Dodgers’ quest to becoming baseball’s first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century.
