Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
It is June, which means it is Pride Month. For some reason, a certain segment of sports fans have an issue with teams celebrating the LGBTQI+ community. All you have to look at are the comments left under posts from Saturday from teams that noted Pride Month had arrived. There is sure to be some ruckus this month that will bubble to the surface. MLB and many teams changed their social media profile pics to include a rainbow, a sign of support for Pride Month. In response to events of last year, Pitcher List created a T-shirt to show it stands with the LGBTQI+ community and all those who might feel a little different than others. You can purchase it here.
Today’s Headlines
Orioles Flex On Rays
It wasn’t the first time this season the Baltimore Orioles hit four home runs in a game, but it was the distances they flew that were impressive. Ryan Mountcastle hit a pair of two-run blows, while Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg added solo shots in the Orioles’ 9-5 triumph over the Tampa Bay Rays. Mountcastle’s eighth and ninth homers of 2024 went 400 and 431 feet, respectively, while Santander’s 10th of the season traveled 401 feet and Westburg’s ninth of the year went 414 feet.
He's that Ry, pal. pic.twitter.com/1Fo6C4TbtP
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 1, 2024
Santander to right, Santander to right. pic.twitter.com/qFxN4njoip
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 1, 2024
West in show. pic.twitter.com/1Pvv5Larcd
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 1, 2024
MOUNTY HAS HIT THE BUDS!!!
Repost to enter for a chance to win an O’s VIP experience presented by @budweiserusa. pic.twitter.com/l74zaRbZb2
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 1, 2024
Judge Crushes In June, Too
Sure, the calendar flipped months from May to June, but that doesn’t mean anything is going to change for Aaron Judge. The MLB home run leader, playing in the stadium he came to as a youngster, hit his third home run in two days as the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3. Judge’s two-run shot in the first inning off Logan Webb was his 21st of the season and was launched 464 feet, the fifth-longest at Oracle Park in the Statcast era (since 2015). That blast came on the first day of June following a May in which he slashed .361/.479/.918 with 14 homers. Giancarlo Stanton added his 14th homer of the season for the Yankees.
En Fuego 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kh3NvRFc34
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2024
Suarez Appears OK After Scare
There hasn’t been a whole lot of adversity to hit the Philadelphia Phillies so far this year. But the team with the best record in MLB held its breath after their best pitcher in the first two months of the season was struck by a liner. The left-hander took a 106.1 mph liner from Alec Burleson off his pitching hand, recovered, and lobbed the ball to first base to finish the top of the second inning. Suarez, off to a 9-1 start with a 1.70 ERA, was diagnosed with a bruised hand. It is unknown whether he will make his next start at this early stage, but Suarez said the ball did not hit any bone.
Padres Lose Musgrove, Darvish To IL
The San Diego Padres had been hanging around in the NL West, yet to rattle off a significant winning streak. That challenge became a little more difficult when the team placed its top two starters, right-handers Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish, on the 15-day injured list. Both could miss a significant amount of time. Musgrove was scratched from Saturday’s start vs. the Kansas City Royals due to right elbow inflammation. Musgrove missed time recently with a similar issue. Darvish has a left groin strain that forced him out of his start Wednesday. The Padres called up Randy Vásquez, who started Saturday, and Logan Gillaspie from Triple-A. No word yet on who will take Darvish’s turn in the rotation on Tuesday.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Berry Cool Move
As part of the number retirement ceremony for outfielder Darryl Strawberry, the New York Mets made a little change with the home run apple.
Home run strawberry for the day 🍓 pic.twitter.com/gN9xXsXqng
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 1, 2024
1️⃣8️⃣ forever. pic.twitter.com/Jo74m6dQdR
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 1, 2024
Suzuki +1
There is no plus/minus in baseball like there is in basketball. But Seiya Suzuki surely felt redemption when he crushed a grand slam to tie the game in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds. That is because Suzuki dropped Luke Maile’s fly ball to right field in the top half of the inning that allowed three runs to score. The Cubs beat the Reds 7-5 thanks to Dansby Swanson’s two-run homer in the eighth inning.
GET OUTTA HERE, BALL! pic.twitter.com/B0PnEddVJC
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 2, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Phillies Triple-A catcher Payton Henry was released from a hospital and is “doing well.” Henry was struck on the back of the head on a follow-through of a swing from New York Mets Triple-A infielder Pablo Reyes on Friday and taken off the field by stretcher. Henry later made a post on social media thanking everyone for their concern and support.
⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery) pitched a simulated inning, throwing 20 pitches, for the first time in his rehab and said, “It went OK.” The 36-year-old three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is still about six weeks away from returning to the Dodgers’ rotation.
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays right-handed closer Jordan Romano (right elbow inflammation) was placed on the 15-day IL. Romano’s start to the 2024 season was delayed due to elbow issues. Left-hander Brendon Little was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Boston Red Sox second baseman Vaughn Grissom (strained right hamstring) is headed for the 10-day IL after being injured running out a grounder vs. the Detroit Tigers.
⚾ The Washington Nationals released outfielder Victor Robles, formerly their No. 1 prospect, after he went unclaimed following being designated for assignment.
⚾ Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi was removed from Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers due to left Achilles tendinitis.
⚾ Los Angeles Angels left-handed starter Reid Detmers was sent down to Triple-A following Saturday’s start. Detmers allowed five runs on four hits and issued four walks in 3.2 innings in the Angels’ 9-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners, putting his ERA at 6.14.
Articles You Should Read
Why MLB’s inclusion of Negro Leagues stats should come with an asterisk — Jim Trotter, The Athletic
MLB Mock Draft 3.0 — Carlos Collazo, Baseball America
The best of MLB in May — Will Leitch, MLB.com
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