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Today’s Headlines
Phillies Phirst to Phorty
It’s a fairly arbitrary milestone, but it typically at least bears noting: The first team to 40 wins in 2024 is the Philadelphia Phillies:
40-win club.
Population: @Phillies pic.twitter.com/9zZ8BRLrqM
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2024
The Phils bested the New York Yankees by several hours in order to hit the mark first. They’ve gained some doubters due to their lack of games against upper-tier competition; they’ve only played 13 games against teams over .500 to their credit at this point. But only the Yanks have a better run differential than Philly’s +95. Which is…exactly what you’re supposed to do.
It’s just unfortunate that the milestone comes in those City Connects.
Rising to 20
As long as we’re celebrating “First to…” milestones, here’s Aaron Judge:
TWO HOMERS TONIGHT
FOURTEEN THIS MONTH
TWENTY THIS SEASONAaron Judge 😤 pic.twitter.com/jr2RPSICiL
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2024
Fourteen homers in a month. A dozen doubles. The first Yankee to do that. Imagine being the first Yankee to do anything at this point in the chronology. It’s simply been an unreal month for Aaron Judge. There’s some sentiment, too. Judge put the finishing touches on this historic month in his home state against the team he grew up rooting for.
(Note: Since this game was in San Francisco, it’s important not to confuse tonight’s events with whatever it was that Arson Judge might’ve done.)
Padres Offense Explodes
The San Diego Padres have been a difficult team to figure out thus far. It seemed fairly similar to last season when the offense & pitching couldn’t get on the same page at the same time. When you hang nine runs in an inning, though, things tend to take care of themselves (mostly):
The hits start comin’ and they don’t stop comin’. pic.twitter.com/9cmx8XRmQd
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 1, 2024
That’s a two-minute-20-second video of the Padres just scoring runs against a surging Kansas City squad. They recorded a club-record 11 hits in the inning, starting with a two-run single from Jake Cronenworth. Hilariously, they ended up being only feet away from squandering it in the ninth.
Pitcher Injuries
On the bad news front, we’ve got some pitcher injuries to add to the list. Starting in Baltimore:
John Means and Tyler Wells will miss rest of season and have elbow surgery
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) May 31, 2024
Means had been pretty solid in his return to the mound for the O’s, even after struggling to get completely healthy following Tommy John. Wells had something of a breakout in ’23. Unfortunately, Baltimore will be without each of them moving forward. The good news, at least, is that they have some decent depth lined up to deploy as needed.
In less severe news, a prominent arm from the senior circuit will miss some time:
The Dbacks the Dbacks recall from Triple-A Reno:
RHP Slade Cecconi
Placed on the 15-day Injured List:
RHP Zac Gallen (right hamstring strain)— Jody Jackson (@Jody_Jackson) May 31, 2024
It’s generally positive when it’s lower body, given the alternative. However, the Arizona Diamondbacks have faltered to a heavy extent following their World Series run last year. Gallen missing from an already-mediocre rotation could be problematic as they attempt to remain in the NL playoff picture.
Best Moments From Yesterday
A Toronto Walkoff, For A Change
Heading into Friday, only two teams hadn’t won a game in 2024 by way of the walkoff: the Toronto Blue Jays & Los Angeles Angels. The former was able to rectify that by the end of the night:
Davis Schneider sends the @BlueJays into #Walkoff mode. pic.twitter.com/CHuoJAUCvq
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2024
The most notable thing about an otherwise normal walkoff is that it took 14 innings to get there. The Jays & Pirates went scoreless in the 10th. Each scored a run in both the 11th & 12th innings before a scoreless 13th. Davis Schneider was able to end it in the 14th.
And I must say, the Toronto City Connects do not look nearly as bad as initially thought.
Elly De La Arm
We’ve seen Elly De La Cruz fire a baseball across the infield in notable fashion this year, though that particular instance resulted in an error in a game that was essentially over. On Friday, he flashed the arm under much different circumstances:
Elly De La Cruz cuts down the tying run at the plate with a CANNON! pic.twitter.com/cHz6acxwAj
— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2024
With the Cubs threatening in the ninth, Seiya Suzuki doubled down the left-field line. Pete Crow-Armstrong scored easily, but the 93.3 mph throw from De La Cruz cut down Nick Madrigal at the plate. Like, it wasn’t even a little bit close. Some of that is on a bad read by Madrigal. And a bad send by Willie Harris. But the rest of it is the hose on Elly, which ended up preventing extras (or worse).
Cody Bellinger flew out to seal the game for the Reds. De La Cruz also stole his 32nd base earlier in the game. An obnoxiously exciting player on both sides of the ball.
Whistle Before They Work
And now for something completely different:
Chris Ullman, a four-time international whistling champion and member of the Whistlers Hall of Fame, whistles his rendition of the national Anthem at the Orioles game. pic.twitter.com/aduSsssj15
— Kevin Richardson Sports (@KRichardsonMMA) May 30, 2024
I have a thousand questions. Starting with: How does one become a whistling champion?
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Mets designated C Omar Narváez for assignment, optioned 3B Brett Baty & P Christian Scott to Triple-A, acquired C Luis Torrens, recalled P Dedniel Núñez, and selected IF José Iglesias to the active roster.
⚾ Cardinals placed OF Lars Nootbaar on 15-day IL (oblique strain) & recalled IF José Fermín from Triple-A Memphis.
⚾ Rays selected P Justin Sterner to the active roster & optioned P Tyler Alexander to Triple-A Durham
⚾ Blue Jays designated RP Joel Kuhnel for assignment to make room for P Ryan Burr on the 40-man roster.
⚾ Oakland optioned P Tyler Ferguson to Triple-A Las Vegas & recalled Ps Dany Jiménez and Brady Basso.
⚾ Guardians activated OF Steven Kwan & designated OF Estevan Florial for assignment.
⚾ Dodgers activated P Evan Phillips & designated P Elieser Hernández for assignment.
Articles You Should Read
Top of the Order: Here’s What a Mets Teardown Could Look Like – Jon Becker (FanGraphs)
How have these 6 position switches gone? – Mike Petriello (MLB.com)
MLB Cannot Elevate the Negro Leagues by Subsuming Them (2021) – Shakeia Taylor (Baseball Prospectus)
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
That national anthem was incredible – give that guy a grammy!!!