Samwise MLB Newsletter
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Elly De La Cruz Placed on IL With Hamstring Strain, Top Prospect Edwin Arroyo Called Up
Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right hamstring strain, an injury sustained when he pulled up at first base in Sunday’s game against Atlanta. Manager Terry Francona said De La Cruz will likely miss two to four weeks. The 24-year-old switch-hitter was putting together his best season, slashing .280/.346/.509 with 12 home runs and 10 steals. To fill the void, the Reds recalled top prospect Edwin Arroyo from Triple-A Louisville for his MLB debut. The 22-year-old Arroyo was hitting .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs in Triple-A this season.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN
Rays Rally From Five Runs Down to Beat Tigers 10–9
The Tampa Bay Rays erased a five-run deficit to defeat the Detroit Tigers 10–9 at Tropicana Field on Monday night, keeping pace in a tight AL East race. Detroit jumped out to a 7–2 lead after Dillon Dingler homered off Trevor Martin in the fifth inning, but the Rays rallied in the eighth when they batted around and scored four runs, capped by Matt Carpenter’s two-run double. Tyler Holton recorded the win in relief, and Will Vest earned his first save of the season by getting five outs. Yandy Díaz had three hits and Junior Caminero also homered for Tampa Bay.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Cole Young Walk-Off Gives Mariners 3–2 Win Over Mets, Seventh Straight Victory
Cole Young singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Mets 3–2 on Monday to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games. The victory pushed Seattle to the top of the AL West standings. During the streak, Mariners pitching has been exceptional, surrendering just 12 total runs and allowing more than two in a game only once. The Mariners have transformed their season with this run, turning what had been a middling start into one of the hottest stretches in the American League. Seattle next faces a critical series that will test whether the streak continues.
Sources: ESPN
Dodgers’ Brusdar Graterol Undergoes Back Surgery, Season in Doubt
Dodgers right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol underwent back surgery Sunday and could miss the remainder of the 2026 season, according to a report Monday. The 27-year-old had already missed all of the 2025 season recovering from November 2024 shoulder surgery and had not pitched in a big league game since the 2024 playoffs. Graterol had begun a rehab assignment in May before suffering a setback. He carries a career 2.78 ERA across 190 innings but has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. The surgery could spell the end of Graterol’s time in Los Angeles, as he is slated to become a free agent after this season.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, Sports Illustrated
Diamondbacks’ Cristian Mena to Undergo Shoulder Surgery, Out for Season
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Cristian Mena will undergo shoulder surgery, manager Torey Lovullo announced Monday, likely ending his 2026 season before it truly began. Mena first suffered a teres major strain in June 2025 that wiped out the final portion of his season. He aggravated the injury over the winter and opened 2026 on the injured list. A throwing program attempted in late April provided no relief. The 23-year-old will spend the entire season on the 60-day injured list and hopes to be ready for Spring Training 2027. Mena had been viewed as a key component of Arizona’s young pitching development pipeline.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, Sports Illustrated
Injury-Depleted Athletics Call Up Prospect Kade Morris for MLB Debut
The Oakland Athletics called up pitching prospect Kade Morris for his MLB debut on Monday as the rotation continues to absorb injuries. Right-handers Aaron Civale and Luis Severino are both on the injured list with shoulder issues, and Gunnar Hoglund required season-ending hip surgery. Morris, 24, was a 2023 Mets third-round pick acquired at the 2024 trade deadline for Paul Blackburn. He posted a 4.92 ERA in 159 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas, featuring a 94-mph fastball and slider combination. FanGraphs ranked him the No. 3 prospect in Oakland’s system. Morris could slot into the rotation or serve as a long reliever.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
Pirates Deal Justin Lawrence to Twins for Cash
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence to the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations Monday, clearing Lawrence out of DFA limbo. Lawrence, 31, struggled in 2026 with a 5.32 ERA and an 11.3 percent walk rate across 22 innings for Pittsburgh. Minnesota assumes the remaining approximately $800,000 of his $1.225 million arbitration salary. Because Lawrence has no minor league options remaining, the Twins must place him on their active roster once he reports. Minnesota’s bullpen ranked 25th in ERA entering the day. Lawrence sits in the mid-90s with his sinker and has a swing-and-miss breaking ball, though his command has remained a persistent issue.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, Sports Illustrated
MLBPA Negotiator Sees “Clear Distance” From MLB as Salary Cap Battle Intensifies
Collective bargaining talks between MLB and the players association are strained, with union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer saying Monday there is clear distance between the two sides following MLB’s submission of a salary cap counterproposal. MLB’s proposal calls for a hard cap at $245.3 million and a salary floor at $171.2 million. The MLBPA countered that under MLB’s revenue definitions, players would collectively lose half a billion dollars compared to 2026 levels. The union’s own proposal included raising the minimum salary to $1.5 million, nearly double the current $780,000 floor. The current CBA expires December 1, intensifying pressure on both sides to reach agreement.
Sources: ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 36–21, —
2. N.Y. Yankees — 36–23, 1.0
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 29–31, 8.5
4. Baltimore Orioles — 28–32, 9.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 25–33, 11.5
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 34–27, —
2. Chi. White Sox — 32–28, 1.5
3. Minnesota Twins — 28–33, 6.0
4. Kansas City Royals — 23–37, 10.5
5. Detroit Tigers — 23–38, 11.0
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners — 32–29, —
2. Texas Rangers — 29–31, 2.5
3. Athletics — 28–31, 3.0
4. Houston Astros — 27–34, 5.0
5. L.A. Angels — 23–38, 9.0
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 40–20, —
2. Washington Nationals — 31–30, 9.5
3. Philadelphia Phillies — 30–29, 9.5
4. Miami Marlins — 27–34, 13.5
5. N.Y. Mets — 26–34, 14.0
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 36–21, —
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 31–27, 5.5
3. Pittsburgh Pirates — 32–28, 5.5
4. Chi. Cubs — 32–28, 5.5
5. Cincinnati Reds — 30–29, 7.0
NL West
1. L.A. Dodgers — 38–22, —
2. San Diego Padres — 32–26, 5.0
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 32–27, 5.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 23–37, 15.0
5. Colorado Rockies — 23–38, 15.5
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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