Dustin May stumbles, Dodgers drop another in Boston amid trade buzz

BOSTON — The Dodgers dropped their weekend series at Fenway Park, capped by a 4–3 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday. Despite taking an early lead, Los Angeles couldn’t hold off Boston’s offense and missed key opportunities with runners in scoring position. With the trade deadline approaching, changes could be on the way soon.

Right-hander Dustin May opened the game by hitting Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony, followed by a single from Jarren Duran, setting up Trevor Story’s sacrifice fly for Boston’s first run. May labored through five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, with four strikeouts on 77 pitches. The biggest blow came in the fifth, when Alex Bregman launched a go-ahead two-run homer, his 13th of the season.

With his name circulating in trade rumors, Sunday may have been May’s final start in a Dodgers uniform.

The Dodgers briefly led after a two-run fourth, highlighted by Michael Conforto’s towering 424-foot home run, his ninth of the season. That came off former Dodger Walker Buehler, who faced his old team for the first time since joining Boston.

Buehler ran into trouble in the fourth, walking Miguel Rojas to start the frame, then allowing a single to Shohei Ohtani and walking Teoscar Hernández. A bases-loaded walk to Freddie Freeman tied the game at 1–1, giving Freeman his eighth RBI this season with the bags full.

Buehler’s final line was not too impressive against the Dodgers with 4 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts on 104 pitches.

The Dodgers have now lost 13 of their last 18, and Sunday’s loss was another example of missed chances. L.A. struggled again with runners in scoring position, leaving valuable runs on the table.

For the Dodgers, May remains one of the most intriguing assets in the organization. He’s 27 years old, under team control through 2027, and possesses some of the nastiest raw stuff in the league — a heavy sinker, a wipeout slider, and velocity that often touches 98–99 mph.

But what May hasn't done — and what’s becoming harder to ignore — is take the next step. Injuries have limited his development. So has inconsistency. Sunday’s outing was a microcosm of his career to date: promise, flashes, but not enough execution to dominate.

And now, with the Dodgers in a tailspin, having lost 13 of their last 18 games, the front office faces an increasingly urgent question: Is it time to move on?

It’s no secret the Dodgers are shopping for pitching and potentially a right-handed bat. May, who still carries high upside and multiple years of control, may be one of the most attractive trade pieces they’re willing to move — especially if they want to avoid parting with top prospects. Teams have inquired about Dalton Rushing as well but it seems like the Dodgers aren't interested in moving him unless the right deal is presented. 

The counterpoint is just as compelling: trade May now, and you risk watching him become an All-Star elsewhere. Let him stay, and you continue to ride the rollercoaster 

Injury Updates and Rotation Planning

Left-hander Blake Snell is expected to rejoin the rotation next weekend in Tampa Bay. The Dodgers will switch to a six-man rotation, with Ohtani scheduled to pitch on the upcoming two Wednesdays. The team also has the next three Thursdays off, providing flexibility in managing workloads. Ohtani will no longer be used as a piggyback starter; instead, the team will rely on standard bullpen relief after his outings.

In bullpen news, the Dodgers activated RHP Blake Treinen and recalled LHP Justin Wrobleski. RHPs Will Klein and Edgardo Henriquez were optioned to Triple-A. Additionally, the Dodgers are reportedly planning a private workout for RHP Joe Kelly, per Robert Murray, this upcoming week, fueling speculation about another possible reunion with the fan-favorite reliever.