Dustin May Injury: Scapula Contusion

Dustin May left Wednesday's start against the Mets after one pitch when A.J. Ewing's 106 mph line drive smashed into the right side of his upper back. The Brewers announced a right scapula contusion. X-rays at Citi Field were negative. May said afterward it took his breath away, but he feels it is "just a bruise" with no structural damage.

Ewing's comebacker caromed to third baseman David Hamilton, who threw to first for the out. May doubled over, tried warmup pitches, then followed manager Pat Murphy off the mound. Robert Gasser, who had just started warming, covered 5 1/3 innings and Milwaukee still won 8-1. That bullpen save mattered on day two of a 16-games-in-16-days stretch.

How serious is the Dustin May injury?

Best-case language from the clubhouse. Contusion means bruise. Negative X-rays mean no fracture on the images they took. May said motions already felt better later Wednesday and that availability depends on how he wakes up Thursday. He did not lock a next start. He also did not talk like a pitcher headed for the IL.

May, 28, arrived from St. Louis at the trade deadline with JoJo Romero. He was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three Milwaukee starts entering Wednesday, inflated by a seven-run outing against Seattle. The Brewers needed length from him. Instead they needed an emergency starter who had not even sat down in the pen.

What happened in Brewers vs Mets after May left?

Milwaukee answered. Six straight singles in the second (first such inning for the club since 1998) built a four-run lead. Brice Turang homered in the fourth, his first since July 31. Sal Frelick returned from a shoulder issue with three hits. Cooper Pratt added two infield hits and a steal. A stadium squirrel even paused play in the third.

The Mets lost more than the scoreboard. Bo Bichette exited with a left foot contusion after fouling a ball off his ankle, a separate scare in the same game. For Brewers fans who watched Francisco Lindor beat Milwaukee in 10 innings a night earlier, Wednesday flipped the script. May's health is the only story that still hangs over the win.

Dustin May injury FAQ

What is Dustin May's injury? A right scapula contusion after a 106 mph line drive. X-rays were negative.

Did May leave after one pitch? Yes. He tried warmups, then exited in the first inning vs the Mets.

Did the Brewers still win? Yes. Milwaukee won 8-1 behind Robert Gasser's emergency relief.