Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu had his two-game suspension upheld Monday following his appeal. However, he will not need to serve the suspension until next season. This means he will be available for tonight’s ALCS Game 7 against the Texas Rangers.
A decision has been rendered by the arbitrator regarding the appeal for Bryan Abreu’s discipline. His two-game suspension has been upheld, and it will be served during the first two games to begin MLB’s 2024 season. #ALCS #Postseason
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) October 23, 2023
Bryan Abreu’s Appeal Rejected
MLB handed down Abreu’s suspension after Game 5. They claimed he intentionally threw at the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia in the at-bat following his go-ahead homer. While the in-game situation wouldn’t support this claim, the optics do. The Astros appeared upset after Garcia flipped his bat and slowly strutted toward first base after his home run. Once he was plunked, both benches cleared, and Abreu, Garcia, and Astros manager Dusty Baker were all ejected.
Benches clear in Texas!
Adolis García was hit with a 99-mph fastball on the first pitch after hitting a 3-run HR to take the lead.
Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu and manager Dusty Baker were ejected.
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— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 20, 2023
Whether or not Abreu’s action was intentional, it and the resulting brawl certainly had an effect on Houston. After putting two runners on in the ninth inning, Jose Altuve blasted a go-ahead three-run homer of his own. The Astros held on for a 5-4 win.
While Abreu’s status for Game 7 briefly hung in the balance, MLB will allow him to serve his suspension at the start of the 2024 regular season. Should Abreu enter the game at any point, it could create an interesting situation if Garcia steps up against him again. The fact that Garcia hit a grand slam to break open Game 6 should make the bad blood between the two teams reach a fever pitch. All bets are off regarding how certain pitchers will be used in a Game 7, but Dusty Baker might want to consider if and when to use Abreu in a late-game situation, especially if Garcia is involved.
Regardless of tonight’s result, the intrigue of Abreu’s suspension will likely not end there. The Astros open up the 2024 season at home against the New York Yankees. The bad blood between those two teams stretches back the better part of a decade. Should Abreu appear later in that series, expect the Yankees to remember his faceoff against Garcia and its aftermath.
Photo Credit: © Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
