MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: June 2, 2026, 8:51 PM ET

Injury Updates and Health Concerns

The Mariners took a hit as first baseman Josh Naylor missed Tuesday's game due to back spasms that forced him to exit Monday's victory over the Mets in the seventh inning after hitting a home run. Meanwhile, the Yankees placed Judge on the shelf with a nagging bone bruise in his right shoulder, though the slugger is day-to-day and could return soon. The Reds' shortstop sidelined as Elly De La Cruz was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, with an initial return timeline of 2-4 weeks. On the West Coast, the Giants continued injury woes as they placed reliever Joel Peguero on the 60-day injured list with a left hamstring strain while also designating infielder Buddy Kennedy for assignment.

Player Returns and Debuts

The Chicago Cubs received pitching reinforcements as Edward Cabrera and Matthew Boyd are nearing returns to their rotation after recovering from injuries, providing much-needed depth to a banged-up pitching staff. The Astros boosted their bullpen by reinstating All-Star closer Josh Hader from the 60-day injured list, though he won't make his 2024 debut until next season. In Texas, the Rangers promoted a pitching prospect as they purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Robby Ahlstrom and recalled right-hander Luis Cervelo and infielder Cody Freeman from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of Monday's game against the Mariners. The Blue Jays faced injury setback as outfielder Jesus Sánchez left Sunday's game against the Orioles after being hit on the wrist by a ball thrown from the stands.

Performance Highlights

Veteran pitcher Jacob de Grom reached milestone by earning his 100th career victory with five scoreless innings, showcasing his continued dominance at age 37 despite recent injury concerns. Meanwhile, two National League Cy Young candidates battled for supremacy in what was described as the best pitcher of the month battle in recent memory, though specific performance details were limited. Outfielder Nick Castellanos reflected on past during his time with the Phillies, acknowledging the highs and lows during his four years in Philadelphia as he now plays for the Padres.

Organizational Moves and Team News

The Giants made coaching changes by hiring former Astros third base coach Gary Pettis less than a week after reassigning Hector Borg to a different role in player development. In Boston, Red Sox owner John Henry's concerns documented by Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who revealed the owner is worried about the direction of his last-place team. In a show of rivalry, the Pirates mocked the Twins by posting Minnesota's logo on X with the "W" in "Twins" edited out following a series sweep.

League-Wide Developments

MLB's labor negotiations showed signs of trouble as MLBPA's Bruce Meyer revealed there's "clear distance" between the two sides just six months before the next Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire, with the league pushing for a salary cap that the players' association strongly opposes. Prospect rankings were updated across all 30 MLB farm systems as Kiley McDaniel analyzed who's rising and falling entering June, though specific names and rankings weren't detailed in the snippets. A comprehensive breakdown of monthly performance highlighted MLB's biggest winners and losers over the past month, with insights into what could shape the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, the ongoing debate about salary cap proposal continues to divide league officials and players as Jeff Passan analyzes the initial labor proposals.