The Milwaukee Brewers received encouraging news regarding starting pitcher Dustin May after he was forced to leave Wednesday’s game against the New York Mets after throwing just one pitch.
May suffered the injury in an unfortunate way when Mets leadoff hitter A.J. Ewing smashed a 106 mph comebacker that struck the right-hander in the upper back, near his throwing shoulder. May immediately showed discomfort and was removed from the game as Milwaukee’s training staff attended to him.
The initial update from the Brewers offered some relief. May was diagnosed with a right scapula contusion, essentially a bruise around the shoulder blade area, while X-rays came back negative. The results indicate there was no obvious fracture or major structural damage detected during the initial examination.
That is especially important for Milwaukee, considering the extensive injury history May has dealt with throughout his career.
The Brewers acquired the right-hander from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, hoping their pitching development staff could help him regain the form that made him an effective starter. May had finally managed to stay healthy in St. Louis and had established himself as a dependable back-end rotation option before the trade.
His transition to Milwaukee, however, has not gone according to plan. May has surrendered 10 runs across just 15 1/3 innings since joining the Brewers, leaving him searching for consistency while adjusting to his new team.
Wednesday’s injury added another concern, but the initial diagnosis provides Milwaukee with reason for optimism.
Rather than suffering a significant shoulder or arm injury, May appears to be dealing with the aftermath of taking a hard line drive directly to his upper back. The fact that the X-rays were negative significantly reduces the immediate concern surrounding the injury, although the Brewers will still need to monitor him closely because the impact occurred near his throwing shoulder.
The timing of the injury could also be important for Milwaukee. With the regular season entering its final stretch, the Brewers have little room for extended absences from their starting pitchers. Losing May for multiple starts could place additional pressure on the bullpen and the rest of the rotation.
For now, the biggest question is whether May will be healthy enough to make his next scheduled start. The Brewers are expected to evaluate him over the coming days and determine how much discomfort remains before making a decision.
Milwaukee has made a habit of taking pitchers with considerable talent and attempting to maximize their potential after acquiring them from other organizations. May was viewed as another opportunity to do exactly that, but his difficult start with the Brewers means the club will be hoping Wednesday’s scare does not develop into another lengthy setback.
The good news is that the early examination did not reveal a fracture or structural damage. If the bruise heals quickly and May avoids further complications, Milwaukee could still have its recently acquired starter available for the stretch run.
For a team with postseason ambitions, that would be the ideal outcome after an alarming one-pitch exit.
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