LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain, the team announced Thursday, less than a year after May returned from Tommy John surgery.
Manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins that May has a flexor pronator strain and would miss at least one month, but didn’t want to speculate beyond that.
Sources told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez that May’s ulnar collateral ligament is intact, relevant given that the right-hander is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery in May 2021.
May went only one inning Wednesday before exiting the game. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
“It’s tough for Dustin, what he’s had to go through,” Roberts said. “He was throwing the baseball well this year and feeling good. Right now to have this speed bump, I know he’s disappointed.”
Roberts said he noticed early on that May’s velocity was down and that he was moving his hand in a way that indicated something wasn’t right. The average velocities of May’s sinker and fastball were down 2 to 3 mph compared to his first eight outings.
“He felt that it was just normal soreness like any starting pitcher has and obviously he felt good enough to make the start,” Roberts said. “He was trying to lobby to stay in there and finish what he started, but we had to do what’s best for him.”
May, 25, has a 4-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. Opponents are batting .173 against May, which is second-lowest in the National League and sixth-lowest in the majors.
May, known for his long, flowing red hair, returned from reconstructive elbow surgery toward the end of last season and was 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled pitchers Andre Jackson and Justin Bruihl and designated Dylan Covey for assignment. Covey, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Wednesday’s game, came in for May and allowed two runs — both homers — in five innings.
The Dodgers lead the NL West with a 28-16 record. Their starting staff is fourth in the NL with a 3.77 ERA.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.