MIAMI -- When the Dodgers continue their road trip to Atlanta for a three-game series against the National League East-leading Braves on Friday, it could preview a potential postseason matchup. Last year, the two clubs met in a Division Series.
Kenta Maeda and NL Cy Young Award candidate Hyun-Jin Ryu will start on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with rookie Dustin May scheduled to pitch in Sunday's finale.
May, who earned his first big league victory in his third start on Tuesday, threw a bullpen on Thursday at Marlins Park. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said prior to the series finale that the club is considering moving May to the bullpen at some point.
Ranked as the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, May has gone 5 2/3 innings in each of his three starts. He gave up one earned run in each of his previous two appearances. Something to monitor is May's workload, as he has accumulated 123 2/3 innings between the Minors and Majors in 2019. His single-season career high for innings is 134 in '17.
"I do see him getting some time in the 'pen," Roberts said. "When that happens, I really can't even speak to that right now."
Across four Minor League seasons, the 21-year-old May had made six relief appearances.
When asked who could possibly garner a start in the future, Roberts said "somebody internal." Rich Hill and Ross Stripling are on the injured list, Julio Urias (six starts) and Caleb Ferguson (one start) are on the active roster and Tony Gonsolin (two starts) is on the 40-man roster.
In their first meeting with the Braves in early May, the Dodgers swept a three-game series.
"I think the thing for us, regardless of who you're playing, what their record might be, if you can just look at it as trying to play good baseball -- whether it's the Marlins, who are really trying to find their identity and running young players out there, or a team like the Braves, who are trying to win the East," Roberts said. "They're playing good baseball. I think it boils down to us playing good baseball. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for this club here, as we do the Braves. They're at different points where they're at as organizations. For me, it's just we've got to play good baseball regardless of the opponent."
Latest on Gyorko
Infielder Jedd Gyorko's Dodgers debut could be imminent -- perhaps as early as this weekend. Gyorko, whom Los Angeles acquired from St. Louis before the July 31 Trade Deadline, entered Thursday 8-for-19 with one double, two homers and seven RBIs in seven Minor League rehab games.
The 30-year-old has been on the injured list since June 8, dating back to his time with the Cardinals. He was cleared for game action after the Dodgers dealt for him.
"Jedd's coming soon," Roberts said. "He's playing well. He's healthy. I would expect him to join our club soon."