New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was suspended 10 games by Major League Baseball Thursday night for “violating the prohibitions on foreign substances.”
“MLB reviewed relevant video and first-person reports, including a report from the umpiring crew,” MLB said in a statement. “Despite having been warned earlier in the game, including being required to make an equipment change, Mr. Scherzer was found to be in violation of the foreign substance prohibitions of the Official Rules of Baseball prior to the bottom of the fourth inning.”
Scherzer was ejected from the Mets’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday after umpires Phil Cuzzi and Dan Bellino determined Scherzer’s hand and glove was laden with a sticky substance. The umpires checked Scherzer’s hand and glove during the customary between-inning checks.
Scherzer said later Thursday night that he will not appeal the suspension.
Scherzer said he used a combination of sweat and rosin to improve the tackiness of his hand before he was told by the umpires to wash his hands between innings. The umpires checked Scherzer again after the fourth inning and they weren’t satisfied and Scherzer was ejected.
“This was the stickiest (a hand) has been since I’ve been inspecting hands, which goes back three seasons,” Bellino told a pool reporter after the game. “It was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers were sticking to his hand.”
Schezer, 38, will be eligible to return to the rotation May 1. Scherzer has a 2-1 record with an ERA of 3.72 in four starts this season.