Dodgers’ Dustin May Injury Update: Expected Return Date, Rehab Progress & Impact on 2025 Rotation

Dustin May’s long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation is no longer a feel-good story—it’s becoming a pivotal subplot in the 2025 National League pennant race. A Remarkable Return From Two Surgeries and a Scare On April 2, the 27-year-old right-hander stood on a major-league mound for the first time in 685 days and promptly struck out the side, capping five scoreless frames that reminded fans why his triple-digit sinker once made him a Rookie of the Year favorite. The outing completed a comeback that required Tommy John surgery in 2021, flexor-tendon repair in 2023 and emergency surgery after a freak esophageal tear last summer. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts called May’s poise “a lesson in channeling emotion,” while Mookie Betts said the club “can’t ask for anything more” from a pitcher who seemed destined to miss yet another season. Numbers Catch Up to the Narrative Through June 3, May has logged 58 strikeouts in 60 innings with a 4.20 ERA and a 3-4 record, solid mid-rotation production for a staff still waiting on Walker Buehler’s full workload. The most encouraging stat: his fastball velocity is averaging 98 mph, identical to his 2020 breakout campaign. Why May Matters for L.A.’s Repeat Bid 1. Rotation Depth: With Clayton Kershaw easing into a veteran’s schedule and rookie Gavin Stone on an innings limit, May’s ability to soak up six innings every fifth day keeps the bullpen fresh for October. 2. Ground-Ball Machine: His 57 percent ground-ball rate neutralizes hitter-friendly parks across the NL West, a huge edge in Coors Field and Chase Field. 3. Contract Year Motivation: May will hit free agency this winter, giving him both financial and competitive incentive to finish strong. Fantasy & Betting Angle May’s strikeout spike (9.5 K/9) and swinging-strike rate (14.8 %) signal upside that Statcast lovers should jump on before the All-Star break. Sportsbooks have already shortened his NL Comeback Player of the Year odds from +2500 to +800 after just nine starts. What’s Next on the Schedule The Dodgers plan to keep May on four days’ rest for Friday’s home series opener against the rival Giants. San Francisco’s lineup ranks bottom-three in MLB against high-velocity sinkers, a matchup that could further deflate his ERA and swell his national profile. Bottom Line From life-threatening surgery to anchoring baseball’s most watched rotation, Dustin May has flipped the script in barely two months. If the Dodgers do repeat as World Series champions, historians may point to the night their flame-haired righty breathed life back into both his career and Los Angeles’ title defense.