Athletics outfielder Ramon LaureanoThe suspension of six games has been reduced to four games after appealing the penalty earlier this week, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter). He will serve the ban of four games tonight.
Major League Baseball initially imposed a six-game penalty after Laureano accused the Astros’ dugout in Sunday’s game. He had plumped that game twice and three times in the series, and Laureano was previously clearly included by Astros battle coach Alex Cintron, who has been suspended for 20 games as a result of his role in inciting the banks’ removal of fracas.
Laureano’s extra two games are no small advantage for the A’s, who went out to a 13-6 start and currently lead the AL West through four games. Laureano has started at a .262 / .398 / .462 starting on the plate while playing excellent defense. The A’s can go to either time Mark Canha of Chad Pinder if they prefer to stick with options already on the roster of 28 men. If they plan to dip into their 60-man player pool, the A’s have Dustin Fowler, Luis Barrera en Skye Bolt as alternatives that are already on the 40-man roster.
