Dustin May has worst start to a Cardinals season in over 30 years

Apr 5, 2026 - 22:00

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May

Dustin May has worst start to a Cardinals season in over 30 years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals are in the middle of a massive rebuild, as seen by their big trades of Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Sonny Gray, and Nolan Arenado this past offseason.

All of those moves have led to a much different lineup than they've had in years past, and for the most part, a team that won't be contending. However, they still added players, one of whom is former Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dustin May.

But, as Josh Jacobs of MLB.com shared, May's start to the 2026 season is the worst the Cardinals have seen in over 30 years. It's been a disaster for May two starts into his Cardinals tenure.

Dustin May has a brutal start to the 2026 season

"Per MLB research, Dustin May's 15.95 ERA in his first two starts as a member of the #STLCards is the worst from a St. Louis starter's first two outings since Alan Benes in 1995 (17.18 ERA)," Jacobs shared.

May has made two starts this season, one against the Tampa Bay Rays and the other against the Detroit Tigers.

At home against the Rays, May allowed six earned runs on 10 hits with just three strikeouts across 4.0 innings pitched.

That was a bad start, and things only got worse in his second outing. On the road against the Tigers, May allowed seven earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts across 3.1 innings.

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He is currently 0-2 with a 15.95 ERA and seven strikeouts, a 2.73 WHIP, and a wild 1.383 OPS against across his two starts and 7.1 innings pitched total.

The beginning of the 2026 season for May is the worst the Cardinals have seen from a starting pitcher since 1995, with Alen Benes, whose ERA sat at a ridiculous 17.18 through two starts.

May needs to turn things around, and soon, otherwise this free agent pickup for the Cardinals might not last very long in the Majors and on the Cardinals roster.