HOUSTON — Astros reliever Bryan Abreu's two-game suspension was upheld by the MLB, but it will be served at the beginning of the 2024 season, the league announced Monday,.
The league said he intentionally threw at Adolis García of the Texas Rangers during Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. (Abreu entered Game 7 in the top of the 6th inning and beaned Mitch Garver right in his rib cage. He was not ejected from the game.)
MLB said all six umpires decided Abreu’s pitch was intentional. MLB said it “took into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety.”
The appeal was heard by John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. The announcement of the upheld suspension came Monday afternoon, hours before the Rangers and Astros squared off in Game 7.
Abreu's pitch started a benches-clearing incident that led to a 12-minute delay before play resumed.
The suspension was announced by MLB senior vice president Michael Hill. Since Abreu appealed, he's eligible to pitch in Game 6 and his appeal hearing will be heard within 48 hours.
García and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. were fined along with Texas pitcher Matt Bush. McCullers and Bush are being prohibited from sitting on their team benches for the rest of the series.
The Rangers forced a Game 7 by beating the Astros 9-2 on Sunday night. Texas led for most of the game, after early homers from Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim. But it was Adolis Garcia's ninth-inning grand slam that shut the door on the Astros as part of a five-run frame for the Rangers.
Texas will send right-hander Max Scherzer to the mound on Monday night, opposite of Houston's Cristian Javier.
Scherzer is likely to be on a short leash. All of Texas' bullpen will be available for the game, as the Rangers used only three relievers on limited work Sunday night.
More Texas Rangers coverage from WFAA: