Dustin

May

Instead, he’ll receive a $500,000 buyout and will look for a lucrative multi-year deal on the open market. The 29-year-old righty made 31 starts between the Cardinals and Brewers in 2026, posting a 4.70 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 144/50 K/BB ratio across 145 2/3 innings during the regular season. He then logged 11 innings in five appearances out of the Brewers’ bullpen as they marched to their first World Series title in franchise history. May shouldn’t have any trouble finding a landing spot in free agency.

May pounded the strike zone, and threw 30-of-39 pitches for strikes without issuing a walk. He found too much of the plate a time or two too many, however, and gave up an RBI double to Chandler Simpson and was charged for another run in the fourth after exiting with zero outs. May has a $20 million option that will assuredly be declined, so he’ll be a free agent who should have a decent market this winter. He could also pitch at some point out of the bullpen over the next few games, if necessary.

It sounds like Brandon Woodruff would have opened tonight if he hadn’t finished last night’s game. As is, May will make his second start of the postseason after pitching in relief his last three times out. He’s surrendered five runs in eight innings thus far in October. The Brewers figure to be very aggressive tonight with all of their key relievers having enjoyed back-to-back days off.

May struggled to locate in his three innings, and while he was able to keep the Padres off the board in the first two frames, he gave up a pair in the third in a less-than-spectacular outing for the 29-year-old. He walked a pair while allowing three hits, and threw just 27-of-52 pitches for strikes. May would likely be available to pitch in Game 5 if necessary.

Murphy noted that aside from his postseason experience and his success against the Padres this season, the Brewers specifically “brought him in to do that”. He’ll start opposite of Padres’ right-hander Nick Pivetta when the series shifts to San Diego on Tuesday evening.

Harrison relieved Dustin May after May gave up two runs in three innings. The left-hander has really struggled at the end of the year, but this was a reminder of the good he’s provided in 2026 and lowered his season ERA to 4.20 and helped him pick up his 11th win of the season. It would not be a surprise at all if Harrison pitched in a similar role in the postseason; particularly if Milwaukee advances to a seven-game series.

May was pitching on three days’ rest, so this was a planned short outing. He’s expected to work again Sunday against the Cardinals before the Brewers firm up any NLDS plans.

May made it through the first two innings without much trouble, but in the bottom of the third inning he would fall victim to a three-run homer by Pete Alonso after he allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach base. May would retire Gunnar Henderson in the next at-bat, but followed that with a double by Coby Mayo and a single by Samuel Basallo before plunking Christian Encarnacion-Strand to load the bases with only one out. May would leave after the HBP and was bailed out by reliever Shane Drohan, who retired the next two batters he faced to end the bases-loaded threat. May has allowed five earned runs over 12.0 innings of work this month and will look to rebound from this outing in his next start, which is scheduled for Thursday against the Phillies.

Talk about pitching with a lead. The Brewers scored two in the first, six in the second, one in the fourth, and eight in the fifth to give May all the run support he’d need. Funny enough, he didn’t need any of it with six scoreless innings. Nasty from the jump, May forced multiple whiffs with five different pitches on his way to 12 total swings-and-misses. He tossed a very even amount of cutters, curveballs, sweepers, and fastballs behind his trusted sinker and to cruise given the circumstances. A bit off since being drilled by a line drive in his start on August 26th, this was a huge step in the right direction for May who’s scheduled to face the Orioles on the road next time out if the Brewers stick with their six-man rotation for another turn.

May served up a solo homer to Elly De La Cruz in the first inning. He then retired all three batters in the second and third before a rain delay cut his start short with two outs in the fourth. May would leave two runners on. One would come in to score following the two-hour delay. May struck out five. The 29-year-old right-hander will take a 4.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 127/45 K/BB ratio across 132 1/3 innings into a start against the Reds in Milwaukee next Saturday.