Dustin May captured the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 before winning another title as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2026.

May entered free agency after declining his $20 million mutual option with Milwaukee.

The right-hander went 7-9 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 145.2 innings over 31 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals and Brewers during the 2026 season.

Milwaukee gave May 10 starts following his arrival, but he completed fewer than four innings in six of them. His tenure with the Brewers began positively before his performance gradually deteriorated.

May went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 36.2 innings over those 10 starts.

His struggles carried into the postseason. May recorded a 5.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 11 innings over five appearances (two starts).

May will not return to Milwaukee, leaving another opening in the rotation. Nick Pivetta could take his place and provide the Brewers with an intriguing option carrying considerable upside.

Injuries prevented Pivetta from pitching for much of the 2026 season. The right-hander made only eight starts, although he performed exceptionally well when available.

Pivetta posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 34.2 innings during the regular season. He followed that performance with a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 7.2 innings over two postseason starts.

His limited 2026 results remained consistent with the previous year. Pivetta finished 2025 with a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 181.2 innings over 31 starts.

After losing substantial time in 2026, Pivetta needs an opportunity to restore his market value before pursuing an expensive long-term agreement. Milwaukee would provide an ideal environment for that rebound attempt.

Pivetta has already demonstrated that he can handle a full season in a starting rotation and produce at a high level.

That history separates him from an ordinary reclamation project because the Brewers would be betting on the return of previously established performance rather than an unprecedented breakthrough.

His recent injuries would require Milwaukee to protect itself with additional rotation depth. Pivetta should not be viewed as the only answer to replacing May, particularly after making so few starts last season.

However, his situation could make a shorter agreement attractive to both sides. Pivetta would receive regular opportunities to rebuild his value for a successful organization, while Milwaukee could add a starter whose potential exceeds the likely financial commitment.

The Brewers have created an environment where pitchers receive clearly defined assignments and reliable bullpen support. Pivetta would not need to carry the rotation by himself or immediately reproduce his 2025 workload.

A healthy Pivetta could eventually become more than May’s replacement. He could give Milwaukee another dependable starter for meaningful games while positioning himself for the lucrative contract he wants to pursue later.