DUSTIN MAY: SPRING TRAINING WEEK 4 RECAP

DUSTIN MAY: SPRING TRAINING WEEK 4 RECAP

Dustin May had what might be his final tune-up of spring against the Cubs, and he made a good statement and lasting impression. This was the only appearance he made this week, but he made it count, going five innings, giving up two hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts.

In his first inning, he shut down the Cubs in order, thanks to a double-play ball off Kris Bryant’s bat. May began that inning by striking out Ian Happ on a good backdoor breaking ball on the outside corner. The next hitter was the catcher Willson Contreras, who May hit with a breaking ball that didn’t break and hit Contreras in his arm. Luckily for May, he got Kris Bryant to hit over the top of the ball and ground into an inning-ending double play.

His second inning of work was also good and relatively quick from May. He got Jason Heyward to break his bat and pop out to Betts. Baez then lined out to Bellinger, but May threw a 100 MPH fastball down the middle, so he got away with one. May then struck out Jake Marisnick on a nasty change-up that just dropped out of the zone. Dustin May actually got an at-bat as well but struck out swinging in his first AB of spring.

May’s 3rd inning of work was again pretty light work for Dustin May. He struck out Bote on a 100 MPH fastball up in the zone, a much better location than the pitch to Javy Baez. He then gets Matt Duffy to weakly ground out on a breaking ball. The Cubs pitcher didn’t stay up there that long and chopped out to May.

The 4th inning was the inning he struggled in most, but I also think he was a bit unlucky. He did walk Happ on six pitches, and then Happ got to second base on a wild pitch. I thought it was a pitch that should’ve been caught, but it was attributed to May. Contreras chopped out to First base, which moved Happ over to 3rd. Bryant grounded to Seager, but he made a throwing error allowing Bryant to get to second base. Happ was going to score anyway, thus the earned run. Heyward grounded out to Muncy, and this time May got the high-heat up enough for Baez to swing through for the strikeout, which ended a 24-pitch inning.

In the final inning for May, he began by striking out Marisnick on a fastball on the inside corner. Bote then singled off Turner’s glove, and that was followed by a single to right field. He struck out Cameron Maybin on another high fastball at 99 MPH. May ended his night by getting Happ to ground out weakly to Muncy.

Dustin May had an excellent and probably his best-extended start so far, and it came at the right time. We still don’t know who will be the 5th starter. May made a strong case with an ERA of 2.63 in his nearly 14 innings of work.

WEEKLY STATS:

ERA: 2.63

IP: 5(13 2/3)

SO: 6(17)

BB: 1 (6)

HBP: 1 (1)

Hits: 2 (11)

Runs scored: 1 (4)

Earned Runs: 1 (4)

For Dustin May’s week 3 recap. For May’s stats this spring, click here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports