The Milwaukee Brewers are ready to get their newest starting pitcher into action, with Dustin May scheduled to make his team debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates after arriving from the St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB trade deadline.
Milwaukee made several pitching moves before Monday’s deadline as the club looked to strengthen its roster for the stretch run. While the Brewers added important pieces to their bullpen, they also addressed the starting rotation by acquiring May from St. Louis. The right-hander now has an opportunity to immediately contribute to a Milwaukee team that is firmly focused on making a deep postseason run.
May is expected to take the mound Thursday afternoon at home against the Pirates, marking the beginning of his tenure with the Brewers. His arrival gives Milwaukee another experienced arm to work with as the team navigates the final portion of the regular season and prepares for the potential demands of October baseball.
Before the trade, May had made 12 starts for the Cardinals this season and entered his Brewers debut with a 5-7 record and a 4.38 ERA. He has also recorded 106 strikeouts, demonstrating his ability to miss bats even when his overall results have been inconsistent.
The move also keeps May within the National League Central, meaning he will now face several of his former division rivals from the opposite side. His first assignment with Milwaukee will come against Pittsburgh, giving him an immediate opportunity to make a strong impression with his new club.
May said he was excited when he learned that the Brewers were acquiring him. Rather than viewing the trade simply as a change of scenery, the right-hander sees it as a chance to join a team with legitimate postseason aspirations.
He expressed particular enthusiasm about joining a Milwaukee club that has established itself near the top of the division and has a strong opportunity to reach the playoffs.
“Being able to come to a team that’s leading the division by a lot, a great ballclub [with] a really good chance to go to the playoffs and make a run, I’m very thrilled to be a part of it,” May said, according to MLB.com.
That winning environment could be particularly important for May, who now moves from a Cardinals team that began shifting its focus toward the future at the deadline to a Brewers organization firmly committed to competing immediately.
For Milwaukee, the acquisition is about more than simply adding another starting pitcher. The Brewers are looking to build enough depth and reliability throughout their pitching staff to withstand the grind of the final weeks of the regular season. May’s experience and strikeout ability could give manager Pat Murphy another option as the club manages its rotation and plans for October.
The Brewers also hope that a change of surroundings can help May find greater consistency. His 4.38 ERA with St. Louis leaves room for improvement, but his 106 strikeouts suggest that he still possesses the raw ability to be an effective major-league starter.
His first start against the Pirates will therefore carry plenty of interest. Brewers fans will get their first look at the newest addition to the rotation, while May will have the opportunity to begin proving why Milwaukee believed he could help them during their postseason push.
With the Brewers leading the NL Central and aiming for a long playoff run, May’s debut comes at an important moment. If he can settle quickly into his new surroundings and deliver quality innings, the deadline acquisition could become a valuable piece of Milwaukee’s pitching staff down the stretch.
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