Major League Baseball has imposed penalties after the angels blew up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, the first part of the MLB players’ justice we’ve seen against the Astros after their Cheating scandal rocked baseball last offseason.
Joe Kelly, who threw pitches near the heads of Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa and then taunted Correa, was suspended eight games. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended for one game. Astros manager Dusty Baker was also fined. Kelly will appeal your suspension, so you can play until your appeal is heard.
Here is the full MLB statement:
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly received an eight-game suspension for his actions in the bottom of the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Kelly, who had previously been suspended in his career for intentionally pitching, threw a pitch into Alex Bregman’s head area and then taunted Carlos Correa, leading to the clearance of the banks.
Chris Young, senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement. Additionally, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts received a one-game suspension as a result of Kelly’s actions.
Kelly’s suspension was slated to begin tonight, when the Dodgers will continue their series in Houston. However, Kelly has chosen to appeal. Therefore, discipline will be held in abeyance until the process is complete. Roberts will serve his suspension tonight.
Astros manager Dusty Baker was also fined as part of the incident between the two Clubs.
Kelly was about to hit Bregman in the sixth inning with a 3-0 shot near his head. He then nearly hit Correa with a curved ball, but finally hit Correa and teased him afterwards. As they left the field, Kelly and Correa chewed on each other, causing the benches to clear.
Major League Baseball made it clear to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he was unhappy with what happened, particularly during a pandemic when the league is pressing for social distancing. He also attributed anger on the field as the accumulated tension of a Dodgers team that lost to the deceptive Astros in the World Series.
Dave Roberts will address the team today about leaving the bench. MLB is looking for possible penalties, and Roberts said league officials “were not happy” that the players congregated as they did in Houston last night.
– Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 29, 2020
Roberts believes that last night he “released” some tension. “This is something that has developed over the course of seven months.”
– Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 29, 2020
The Dodgers play the Astros again on Wednesday night, then the two teams will meet twice more this season, Sept. 12-13 in Los Angeles.
