Dustin May Exits After One Pitch as Brewers Defeat Mets 8-1

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Dustin May left Wednesday's start after just one pitch, though the team rallied for an 8-1 victory over the New York Mets.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Dustin May exited his Wednesday night start against the New York Mets after throwing just one pitch at Citi Field. May was struck in the upper back by a 106 mph line drive off the bat of A.J. Ewing to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Despite the early departure of their starter, the Brewers secured an 8-1 victory to improve their major league-best record to 82-51. Left-hander Robert Gasser earned the win in relief, tossing 5⅓ innings of one-run baseball, while Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson combined to allow only three hits over the final 3⅓ shutout innings.

The impact occurred as May whirled to avoid the batted ball, which ricocheted off his right scapula and caromed on one hop to third baseman David Hamilton. Hamilton successfully threw out the Mets rookie at first base. May remained in the game long enough to attempt several warmup tosses under the supervision of manager Pat Murphy and an athletic trainer. Although the 6-foot-6 pitcher noted that his first warmup throw felt fine, he experienced discomfort shortly after and followed Murphy off the mound. The official diagnosis was a bruised right scapula.

Pitching Statistics and Historic Context

May became the first MLB starter to leave a game after a single pitch since Pablo Lopez accomplished the feat for the Miami Marlins on July 2, 2021. The 28-year-old, who turns 29 next month, was making his fourth start for Milwaukee since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the August 3 trade deadline. Across 25 outings this season, May holds a 6-8 record with a 4.56 ERA. His departure forced the Brewers to rely on Gasser, who made the first relief appearance of his three-year big league career and only his sixth as a professional.

Pat Murphy noted that Gasser made big pitches at critical times during his unexpected 5⅓-inning stint. The Brewers are currently chasing their fourth consecutive NL Central title. The pitching staff successfully limited the Mets to a single run, with the bullpen trio of Gasser, Anderson, and Wilson managing the final 26 outs of the contest. May stated after the game that he felt better once he realized there was no structural damage, attributing the initial pain to the blow taking his breath away.

Recovery Outlook and Injury History

Following the 8-1 win, May expressed optimism regarding his availability for his next scheduled start early next week. He indicated that his status would depend on how he felt during Thursday's recovery period. The right-hander has a significant medical history, having undergone two Tommy John surgeries. Additionally, in 2024 while a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, May required life-saving surgery to repair a torn esophagus suffered during a meal.

During the consultation on the mound, May was surrounded by the Brewers' infielders before Murphy motioned to the dugout. The manager described the decision to remove May as a cautious move intended to protect the pitcher for future starts. May confirmed that while he was focused on staying in the game at the moment of impact, the team opted for safety. The Brewers' victory maintains their position at the top of the major leagues as they move into the final month of the regular season.