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‘I’ve got to pitch better for them’: Dustin May disappointed with first Red Sox start, likes Fenway Park atmosphere
May also explained how Red Sox coaches suggested a tweak to his pitch usage.
Dustin May on his first Red Sox start: After being acquired by the Red Sox in a trade deadline deal, right-hander Dustin May made his debut with the team at Fenway Park in Wednesday’s 7-3 loss to the Royals. He went just 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out four.
May, 27, was dealt to Boston by the Dodgers on July 31 for minor leaguers Zach Ehrhard and James Tibbs. He possesses good velocity (averaging a mid-90s fastball), and throws four pitches. Despite that, he’s struggled for most of 2025, posting a 4.85 ERA in 104 innings with Los Angeles prior to the deal.
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Wednesday was a continuation for May, as he was unable to keep the Red Sox seven-game winning streak going.
“Started off good. Then just fell apart and the wheels fell off in the fourth,” May told reporters, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Just lost myself mechanically. It’s been a minute since I’ve been on the mound for some depth. But no excuses. It’s got to be better.”
Having pitched for both the home and visiting team at Fenway Park over the last two weeks (he allowed four runs in five innings in a 4-3 Dodger loss to the Red Sox on July 27), May has scuffled in both recent appearances at his new home ballpark.
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Still, he said he’s a fan of Fenway.
“I like it a lot,” May said of the Boston ballpark. “I haven’t had much success in my two outings but it’s great. Fans are great, atmosphere is fantastic and I’ve got to pitch better for them.”
An interesting pitching tidbit that May shared is Boston’s staff wants to reexamine his pitch usage.
Specifically, May noted that the usage of his cutter could change from an early-count pitch to one that he might try to use to get outs.
“They had the idea,” he said of Red Sox staff lobbying for a change in his pitch usage. “In L.A., it was moreso just use it as an influence but they like it was a weapon pitch and I kind of agree. It can be really effective. It’s just got to be executed.”
Trivia: Dustin May was one of several notable MLB players picked in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Can you name the Diamondbacks starter (originally drafted by the Cardinals) who was also picked in that round?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He has been Arizona’s opening day starter for three years in a row, and was an MLB All-Star in 2023.
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Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Royals 7-3 on Wednesday as Kansas City avoided the three-game sweep.
Boston will travel to face the Padres in San Diego for a three-game series starting on Friday at 9:40 p.m.
On Saturday, the Revolution host D.C. United in what is essentially a must-win game. Kickoff is set for a little after 7:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Royals end Red Sox 7-game win streak as Jonathan India hits 3-run homer in 7-3 victory
- Mike Vrabel’s face bled during a scuffle, and other takeaways from Patriots-Commanders joint practice
- Red Sox, Roman Anthony agree to $130 million contract extension
- ‘You feel the vibe’: With Red Sox rolling, Alex Cora has noticed the atmosphere at Fenway Park
- ‘I don’t agree with the opinion’: As playoff hopes dwindle, Revolution management responds to fan statements
- ESPN announces launch date for new standalone streaming app
- What we know about Steve Pagliuca’s bid to buy the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun
- What Drake Maye told Jayson Tatum after meet-up during Patriots training camp
- Chasing Jayden Daniels is still ‘in the back’ of Drake Maye’s mind
- What Patriots players said about the joint practice scuffle with the Commanders
A Patriots camp recap: Christopher Price and Danielle Dubois of The Boston Globe talked over a busy day from the Patriots-Commanders joint practice on Wednesday.
A very, very fast home run: Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a home run off of Padres reliever Mason Miller’s 103.9 MPH fastball on Wednesday. The 439-foot blast tied the game in the 8th inning, and also became the fastest pitch hit for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008.
On this day: In 1932, Medford native Mary Carew (later Mary Carew Armstrong) helped the U.S. women’s 4×100 relay team win gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, setting a new world record in the process (Canada, which finished a very close second, also broke the record).
Armstrong’s story is remarkable, overcoming a difficult upbringing, the impact of the Great Depression, and the lack of opportunities for women in athletics to eventually excel on the world’s stage.
Daily highlight: Martin Ojeda scored an exquisite volley in Orlando City’s 5-1 demolition of Liga MX side Necaxa in the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.
Trivia answer: Zac Gallen
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