For the second time in less than a week, a Major League Baseball pitcher has been handed an eight-game suspension for using a “foreign substance” while pitching.
BAL pitcher Brian Matusz has received an 8-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his arm during Saturday night's game at Miami.
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) May 25, 2015
Baltimore Orioles reliever Brian Matusz was handed his suspension on Monday. It stems from an incident in the 12th inning of Baltimore’s game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday. The home plate umpire was notified of a substance on the pitcher’s arm. After a brief chat with Orioles manager Buck Showalter, the ump tossed Matusz from the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLJozN8UXH4
Matusz is expected to appeal the suspension.
This comes just a few days after Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Will Smith was also handed an eight-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his arm.
While some have indicated that these situations are par for the course around the baseball world, it is clearly against the rules. That much isn’t debatable.
Photo: USA Today Sports