Scherzer suspended 10 games for ejection of sticky substance

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets pitcher Maz Scherzer was suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday after he was ejected for having a foreign substance on his hand during a game.

Scherzer has appealed the suspension and $10,000 fine imposed by Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for field operations, and can continue playing until the appeal is resolved. . The appeal, which generally must occur within 10 days, would be heard by MLB Special Counsel John McHale Jr.

He became the third pitcher suspended by MLB since the sticky substances crackdown began in June 2021. Seattle’s Héctor Santiago was penalized on June 28 and Arizona’s Caleb Smith on August 24, also 10-game penalties .

All three inspections that led to suspensions involved referee Phil Cuzzi.

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was ejected Wednesday in the fourth inning of a game at Dodger Stadium. He claimed that the stickiness was caused by rosin and sweat and not a foreign substance.

Cuzzi determined after the second inning that Scherzer’s hand was stickier and darker than normal and ordered Scherzer to wash his hands, which Scherzer said he did with alcohol in front of a official of Major League Baseball.