September 26th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers signed right-hander Joe Kelly to a lofty 3-year / $25 million contract last December, they did so with one specific goal in mind – that he would do for the Dodgers what he did against them in the 2018 World Series as the primary set-up man for Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.
It didn’t happen.
Instead of being the panacea that the Dodgers were hoping for, the 31-year-old Anaheim, CA native and third-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 out of UC Riverside is a disappointing 5-4 on the season with a less-than-stellar 4.62 ERA and, in fact, hasn’t made a pitch for the Dodgers since September 18 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium, as he deals with what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has repeatedly refused to identify, calling it “a lower-body issue.”
As such, and as the Dodgers prepare for their seventh consecutive postseason appearance without a specific set-up man in their bullpen, Roberts and company have been auditioning for such during the final week of the regular season with (now) only four games left to play.
The auditions are over.
The Dodgers have found their set-up man, at least for the postseason, for soon-to-be (on September 30) 32-year-old Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. It is just-turned (on September 6) 22-year-old rookie right-hander Dustin May.
Like many (most) Dodger fans, I scoffed at the very thought of an absolute bonified starting pitcher like May pitching out of the Dodgers bullpen. I mean, of his 78 appearances over his four-year minor league career, 73 of them were as a starter. In fact, he didn’t not start a minor league game since 2017, when he made one relief appearance with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. In other words, the Justin, TX native and Dodgers third-round draft pick in 2016 out of Northwest High School in his home town absolutely positively is – and needs to be – a starter, not a reliever.
…except for this October – at least the beginning of it.
Obviously, the Dodgers do not need four starters for the short best-of-five National League Division Series, which kicks off at Dodger Stadium on October 3. And even if they did, it would probably be 39-year-old / 15-year MLB veteran left-hander Rich Hill … probably. But what they do need is a guy who can shut down an opposing offensive in the eighth inning, and May proved beyond all doubt on Wednesday night he is that guy.
In Wednesday’s 6-4 win over the NL West fourth-place San Diego Padres, May came in to pitch the eighth inning. All he did was retire the side in order (including two via strikeout) while hitting 99 mph on the Petco Park radar gun on four of his 11 pitches.
(Photo credit – Raymond Gorospe)
But here again, the thing to keep in mind is that Dustin May is – and needs to be – a starter; perhaps even in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, should the Dodgers get there.
…or the World Series.
Play Ball!
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Yeah……BUT…..he’s a 22 year old rookie.
There’s no high pressure, high leverage history to go by in making the decision to rely on him to get the team through multiple series, much less the World Series. He’s loved with talent, no question at all. But he’s a kid. He may over reach, try to do too much. It’s easy to see that happening when the pressure gets sky high.
Best of luck, Dustin. The Big Red Unit!
Couldn’t disagree more.
This kid has ice water in his veins and is wise well beyond his years. He is absolutely 1,000% ready for the starting role in ANY circumstance – kind of like a left-hander we all know and love, who made his MLB debut … AS A 20-YEAR-OLD.
I agree with you. This isn’t a black and white issue. We all agree he is good and might be “the guy”. But let the kid play, see what he does and don’t write out the playoff roster until you have to! Thats all, not throwing shade on anyone’s opinion.
Set up for who? Jansen is seriously suspect. Lack of a reliable closer is what will kill us this postseason.
Like it or not (and I’m not particularly fond of it either), Roberts has said – repeatedly – that “Kenley is our closer.”
Then again, he has also repeatedly said “Performance matters.”
Stay tuned…
Ron, Kenley aside, a lot more has to happen for the Dodgers to have even the slightest chance of getting to the WS and winning it. The starters, CK, Buehler Ryu all have to keep the baseball in the yard, especially in the early innings. Yes, it has been said for Dodgers to have any chance for a ring Kenley must get the outs. But Dodger offense has to show up with RISP and not be striking out in key spots. If ya noticed Dodger hitters have been striking out more in recent weeks than they were earlier this year. And besides Kenley closing, it might help if Roberts does not sit the hot bats just because of the hand the opposing pitcher throws with, meaning shuffling players in and out and all over the batting order as well.
He’s good, no doubt. But striking out 3 padres isn’t the same as 3 stros. Let’s be cautiously optimistic and let him earn his spot.
Agree to disagree. You look at it your way and I’ll look at it mine.
Ron, I am OK with May setting things up, no problem there, especially as it appears Kelly himself said he won’t be 100% when the PS begins. But we must get to the WS first before we worry about Kenley or anyone else for that matter and that certainly is no guarantee.