A recent pitching adjustment by the St. Louis Cardinals has created an interesting scheduling twist for right-hander Dustin May, who is now lined up to take the mound on May 3 as part of a temporary six-man rotation.
The move comes as St. Louis continues navigating a demanding 17-game stretch early in the season. Despite expectations of a transitional or rebuilding year, the Cardinals have opened strong and remain above .500 as they prepare to host the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game weekend series at Busch Stadium.
While the Dodgers enter as one of baseball’s premier rosters, the Cardinals’ early performance has been one of the more surprising storylines in the league. Even with a significant payroll gap reportedly over $200 million between the clubs both teams have delivered competitive play, setting up a compelling matchup in St. Louis.
One notable subplot in the series is May’s scheduled start on Sunday, May 3. The timing marks the first time he will face the organization that originally drafted and developed him. Selected in 2016 and debuting at age 21, May showed early promise with elite velocity and dominant stretches, including multiple seasons where he posted ERAs under 3.00.
However, his development with the Dodgers was interrupted by injuries and inconsistent availability, as he surpassed 100 innings just once in six seasons. Eventually, roster constraints and durability concerns led to his departure in 2025, when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for prospect James Tibbs.
His stint in Boston did not provide a rebound, as he posted a 5.40 ERA over limited action and struggled with both command and consistency. After entering free agency, May became a clear candidate for a short-term “prove-it” deal, which aligned with St. Louis’ needs following offseason rotation changes, including the departure of Sonny Gray.
That fit led to a one-year, $12.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2027, a low-risk investment aimed at rebuilding value. The Cardinals, led by front office decision-making from Chaim Bloom, viewed May as a potential upside addition who could benefit from a fresh environment.
May’s arrival also produced an unusual uniform storyline. Initially expected to wear his customary number 85 from previous stops, he instead found it unavailable in St. Louis due to its retirement honoring Gussie Busch. With other preferred numbers also taken, he ultimately settled on No. 3—a rare single-digit assignment for a starting pitcher.
At the time, the choice appeared to be a simple roster circumstance, though it has since taken on added curiosity. His next scheduled outing now falls precisely on May 3, aligning his jersey number with the calendar date of his start.
On Sunday, he will close out the series against Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who has emerged as one of Los Angeles’ early-season surprises. For May, the matchup represents both a symbolic and competitive moment: a chance to face his former organization while attempting to build momentum after an uneven start to the year.
After showing flashes of improvement in recent outings, the Cardinals will be hoping May can continue trending upward against one of the league’s most dangerous lineups as the season gains pace.
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