Major League Baseball suspended New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer for 10 games for violating the league’s policy on using foreign substances.
Scherzer was ejected at the beginning of the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after umpires found a “sticky substance” on his glove, which he adamantly claimed was just sweat and rosin.
Umpires rechecked Scherzer twice after the initial finding, asking him to first wash his hands and then use a different glove before determining that the substance remained and ejecting him from the game.
The MLB explained the suspension in a press release.
“MLB reviewed relevant video and first-person reports, including a report from the umpiring crew led by Crew Chief Dan Bellino,” the release read in part.
“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 Baseball Rules prior to the bottom of the fourth inning.
“The umpires inspected Mr. Scherzer for a final time when he was walking to the mound to pitch in the fourth inning, and found that Mr. Scherzer’s throwing hand was even more glossy and sticky than it was during the second inning inspection, despite not yet even throwing a pitch.
“Based on the umpires’ training to detect rosin on a pitcher’s hands, they concluded that the level of stickiness during the fourth inning check was so extreme that it was inconsistent with the use of rosin and/or sweat alone. Both umpires reported difficulty removing the substance from their own hands for multiple innings afterward.
“Consistent with the Official Baseball Rules, the umpires then appropriately ejected Mr. Scherzer from the game.”
Last March, the MLB doubled down on enforcing its foreign substance policy, sending a memo to teams outlining the procedures and penalties for violations.
At the time, pitchers already had to go through checks on their gloves, hats, and belts, and the league added inspections of the hands and fingers. Pitchers are checked upon entering the game and between innings.
In the memo, the MLB allowed umpires to check any player for substances at their discretion and instructed them to eject players with “unquestionably sticky” substances because it provides a competitive advantage. Players in violation automatically receive a suspension.
Scherzer initially appealed the suspension but has since dropped his appeal.
He will be eligible to return on May 1 against the Atlanta Braves, who led the Mets in the National League East entering play on Friday.
The Mets’ season continues against the Giants in San Francisco on Friday night.