SAN DIEGO — Every Major League pitcher endures a stretch of struggles at some point. Not every pitcher goes through that with a totally new cast of supporting characters around him.
That's been the challenge for Brewers starting pitcher and Trade Deadline pickup Dustin May, who has a chance to reset when he takes the ball against the Padres for Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
"Everyone knows when the postseason starts that everything is kind of a blank slate," May said before Monday's off-day workout at Petco Park.
Even before Game 2's thrilling 4-3 Brewers walk-off win on Sunday, May was given the starting assignment by manager Pat Murphy. He will be pitching with a chance to help Milwaukee clinch the best-of-five series.
“Dustin has done some really good things," Murphy said. "He’s experienced. I really believe that he’s really tough on himself and very critical and wants to get it right. The best version of him is really good.”
Acquired from the Cardinals along with lefty reliever JoJo Romero, May grinded for a 2-2 record and a 5.65 ERA in 10 starts for the Brewers as his walk rate elevated from 7.6 in St. Louis to 9.3.
That inconsistency put the right-handed May in the spot of having to figure out adjustments and what wasn't working with a whole new set of pitching coaches in Chris Hook, assistant Juan Sandoval and Major League pitching coordinator Jim Henderson.
"It's not the easiest, but I definitely attribute a lot to the coaching staff trying to still work with me and figure some stuff out," May said.
May, 29, offers a six-pitch mix but relies mostly on power stuff. His four-seam fastball averages 96.9 mph and he also uses a sinker and cutter.
“It’s just trying to simplify things for him as much as possible, whether that’s pitch mix vs. left/right, or sometimes it’s like you get into these situations with guys who have high-octane fastballs that get a little bit like overcooking stuff," Henderson said. "So you just got to try to get him back on track a little bit. Just simple stuff like that with a guy that we haven't known for that long. We’re still trying to find what makes him tick and just get him back in the zone.”
Brewers lefty starter Kyle Harrison — who could be one of the pitchers following May from the bullpen — was acquired via trade this year, from the Red Sox. But that came on Feb. 9 and Harrison had the benefit of an entire Spring Training with the coaches and a whole season to work with them.
"I’ve bounced around a little bit, too," Harrison said. "It’s wherever you’re getting your information, see if it works for you. If not, you can take it or leave it. But I think D-May has done a good job of sorting through it all.
"He and I have kind of fallen into that same boat of the stuff’s there but the results haven’t been there, per se. But he’s got good stuff. I’m just excited to see him fill it up and compete, and that’s what he’s good at doing.”
May last pitched on Sep. 26 against the Cardinals and gave up two runs in three innings with five strikeouts in Milwaukee’s 3-2 win. Over his and the team's hiatus during the NL Wild Card round, he pitched in a simulated game and worked in the bullpen.
"We've kind of nailed some things in this last week or so. Hopefully, stuff comes to a little bit of better fruition tomorrow," May said.
Does that boost his confidence heading into Tuesday?
"Absolutely. I'm feeling good, ready to go," May said.
May, who will be making his first postseason appearance since a relief stint in Game 5 of the 2020 World Series for the Dodgers, was tapped by Murphy in part because of his playoff experience, but also his track record against the Padres.
Over his career, May is 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) against San Diego. His 86 innings vs. the Padres are 50 more than the club he's faced second most (Arizona). This season in three starts, he had a 1.23 ERA over 22 innings and worked a one-hit complete-game shutout with one walk and nine strikeouts on June 15 with the Cardinals.
"So there’s that level of confidence he can rely on when he faces that team," Henderson said. "He’s pitched in the NL West a lot and he knows that place, knows the environment, knows the mound. You hope there’s some comfort there.”
Of course, the Padres will also be seeing May for the fourth time this year.
"I'm going to go in with the best attack plan that I kind of have scouting these guys and seeing what they've been doing recently," May said. "I'm just going to come in and try and do what they're not. Excited for the opportunity."