Dodgers’ Dustin May to undergo Tommy John surgery

This is rough news for a Dodgers staff that has already been hit hard by the injury bug.

The Dodgers’ worst fears were confirmed on Monday, as the club announced that right-hander Dustin May will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. May, 23, exited Saturday night’s start against the Brewers in pain after 1.2 innings.

While the Dodgers have an embarrassment of pitching riches, May’s loss for the next year is still a significant one for the defending World Series champs. May has been extremely consistent since arriving in the majors as a 21-year-old, contributing as both a starter and a reliever while posting a 2.93 career ERA with a 1.065 WHIP over his first 113.2 big-league innings. His combination of elite fastball velocity and imposing offspeed pitches has been nearly impossible for opposing hitters to deal with, and his absence will certainly be felt in Los Angeles’ rotation.

Mitch White, who made his major league debut out of the bullpen late last season and has continued to pitch in relief this year, appears to be the most likely candidate to step into the Dodgers’ rotation for the immediate future. Once they return from their respective injuries, Tony Gonsolin (shoulder inflammation) and David Price (hamstring strain) will likely factor into the Dodgers’ rotation mix as well. Relievers Jimmy Nelson and Dennis Santana could potentially be stretched out as starters if injuries continue to decimate the Dodgers’ starting pitching depth, and 40-man roster members Andre Jackson and Edwin Uceta also could start if needed.