The Boston Red Sox have to be happy about what they’ve gotten out of Dustin May since trading for him.
May has put together two consecutive solid starts for the Red Sox after a tough debut start. On Monday, May took the loss against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, but he allowed only two earned runs and struck out five across six innings and 100 pitches of work — a very respectable showing.
The former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander now carries a 2.87 ERA in 15 2/3 innings pitched for the Red Sox, to go along with 17 strikeouts, four walks and a 146 ERA+.
Through three starts, May has made Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow look savvy for acquiring him. Boston was hoping that May could come in and be a guy to eat innings and give the team a chance to win when he’s on the mound, and on the whole, he’s done just that.
Based on his last two starts, May will continue to factor into the Red Sox’s rotation, but he’s also a potential bullpen asset if and when Boston consolidates the rotation for the postseason (still have work to do to get in, by the way!).
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May’s positive contributions in a Red Sox uniform have been a silver lining amid what has been a rough recent stretch for Boston, highlighted by another frustrating loss on Wednesday night to the Orioles.
May received some love from PitcherList’s Griffey Geiss on Tuesday. Geiss pointed out that May has been even better over his first three starts than most people realize. Geiss also suggested that May is an extension candidate.
“He’s been insanely unlucky over (his first three starts) … .292 BAA … .232 xBA & .383 babip” Geiss posted on X. “Surely that’ll drop soon. Underlying stuff is great: .293 xwOBA, 31% CSW (45% on secondaries, FC is great), 42% GB, 6% barrel. … He’s an extension candidate this offseason if he keeps this up.”
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Mind you he’s been insanely unlucky over this span: .292 BAA ➡️ .232 xBA & .383 babip. Surely that’ll drop soon.Underlying stuff is great: .293 xwOBA, 31% CSW (45% on secondaries, FC is great), 42% GB, 6% barrel.He’s an extension candidate this offseason if he keeps this up. https://t.co/vUy1GhIH3b— G.G. (@ggeiss_mlb) August 19, 2025
Geiss went into greater specifics about the kind of deal he envisions for May. “I think a 1+1 option type of extension with big escalators is a no brainer,” Geiss wrote. “If not the stuff will certainly play in a multi-inning pen role which this team needs.”
May signed a one-year, $2.135 million deal with the Dodgers in November. He was on an identical deal in 2024; both contract agreements kept May out of salary arbitration. He’s due to hit free agency this offseason.
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