Astros’ Abreu facing 2-game suspension for HBP
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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON — Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu has been handed a two-game suspension in the wake of his controversial hit by pitch of Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia, which sparked a benches-clearing incident and a near brawl in the late stages of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night.
Major League Baseball noted in its news release that “all six of the major league umpires deemed Abreu’s pitch to have been intentional” in ejecting him from the game, adding that the league “took into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety” in doling out the suspension.
The announcement — made by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill on Saturday — asserted that Abreu was suspended for “intentionally throwing at” Garcia, a notion several members of the Astros denied in the wake of Houston’s come-from-behind victory in Game 5, including Abreu himself.
“My plan for him was just to try to get the ball up and in,” Abreu said after the game. “That’s my plan with him — up and in, and slider down and away. I just missed the pitch and he just overreacted.”
Abreu, the Astros’ primary setup man, would be unavailable for Game 6 of the ALCS and either Game 7 of that series or Game 1 of the World Series; the Astros, after sweeping all three games in Arlington, Texas, hold a 3-2 advantage over the Rangers. If Abreu elects to appeal, discipline would be on hold while the process plays out.
The collective bargaining agreement states that hearings involving a suspension in the playoffs must be heard within 48 hours of a player deciding to appeal. In this case, Abreu could wait until before Game 6 to state that he wants to appeal, then theoretically be available in Game 6 and a potential Game 7 while the process plays out. In that instance, though, he could be unavailable for the start of the World Series if the Astros advance and his suspension is upheld.
Abreu was also fined an undisclosed amount, as were Garcia, Rangers pitcher Matt Bush, Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and manager Dusty Baker. Garcia and Baker were also ejected from Friday’s game but were not suspended. McCullers and Bush will be prohibited from sitting on their respective benches for the remainder of the ALCS, MLB announced.
Abreu’s hit by pitch occurred in the bottom of the eighth, two innings after Garcia hit a dramatic three-run homer and celebrated emphatically, walking halfway up the first-base line and slamming his bat onto the Globe Life Field turf before starting his jog. The hit by pitch occurred with a runner on first, none out and the Rangers still leading by two runs, on a first-pitch, 99 mph fastball that caught Garcia in the left arm. Garcia immediately turned to Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, then went looking for him again after players from both teams had spilled onto the field.
A similar incident occurred at Houston’s Minute Maid Park in late July, in the wake of a grand slam by Garcia. Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the game, jawed at Maldonado upon reaching home plate. Garcia then joined in. Dugouts and benches emptied then, too, but no punches were thrown.
No punches were thrown on Friday, either, but Baker, who watched Jose Altuve‘s game-winning home run from the hallway connected to the dugout, said there will “probably” be a carryover for what remains of this series.
How so?
“Man, I don’t know,” Baker said prior to Saturday’s workout from Houston. “I don’t have a crystal ball. I mean, it’s going to be what it’s going to be. You have to wait and see, just like me. We don’t script it; it just happens.”
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Jeff Passan, ESPN
The Washington Nationals demoted All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to the minor leagues after he stayed out all night at a Chicago-area casino, leaving only hours before a Friday day game against the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
The 23-year-old Abrams led off for the Nationals and went 0 for 3 with a walk and strikeout in Friday’s game, which started at 1 p.m. CT. He was informed of the demotion Friday night, sources said. He will be sent to West Palm Beach, home of the Nationals’ minor league complex.
Because Abrams has been with Washington for the entirety of the season, the demotion will not affect his service time. Players earn a full year of service with 172 days on the major league roster, and Abrams already has exceeded that threshold.
Abrams could, however, file a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Association to fight for lost pay if he believes the demotion unjust. He would lose around $30,000 of his $752,000 salary for missing the season’s final week. Abrams will be arbitration-eligible this winter, entering the system for the first of four times as a Super 2.
Acquired as one of the centerpieces of the Juan Soto trade two years ago, Abrams parlayed a breakout first-half into an All-Star selection, hitting .268/.343/.489 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases over the Nationals’ first 89 games. He struggled significantly in the second half, slashing .203/.260/.326, and Abrams’ defense has been a weakness throughout the season.
Still, the Nationals did not intend to send him to the minor leagues until they learned of his time spent at the casino, which was first reported Friday by CHGO.
“I just want it to be known it wasn’t performance-based,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters Saturday. “It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics.”
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson defensive end Peter Woods will not play for the 21st-ranked Tigers against NC State on Saturday because of a leg injury.
The team announced Woods’ status about 90 minutes before kickoff. Woods, 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, got hurt two weeks ago on a chop block below the knee in a 66-20 victory over App State. Woods came back in briefly after getting checked then missed the second half.
The Tigers were off last weekend.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has said Woods’ playing status was day-to-day. Swinney said Woods had not missed a practice. But Woods came out to the field for warmups in sneakers and sweatpants while other defensive linemen went through drills.
Woods leads the Tigers with 2½ tackles for loss.
Third-year sophomore Jahiem Lawson is listed as Woods’ backup on the depth chart.
NC State will be without starting quarterback Grayson McCall, who was hurt last week in a win over Louisiana Tech. Freshman CJ Bailey started for the Wolfpack.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Utah quarterback Cam Rising is a game-time decision with an injury to his throwing hand, sources told ESPN, with the expectation that he will attempt to start.
No. 12 Utah plays at No. 14 Oklahoma State on Saturday, one of the biggest games of the season in the Big 12.
Rising has been limited in practice this week with the injury, and he is not expected to be 100% if he does play. He will be monitored closely to see how his injured fingers impact how he throws. The fingers play a huge role in both spin and velocity, which will impact his effectiveness in the passing game.
He injured his hand Sept. 7 against Baylor in the second quarter when he threw a ball away and was pushed out of bounds and landed awkwardly on the water coolers on the Bears sideline.
Rising warmed up with a glove on his hand before last week’s game against Utah State but did not play, and he was spotted with two fingers wrapped on the sideline against Baylor. It’s uncertain if he will use the glove on Saturday.
Utah’s offense plays a majority of its snaps under center and uses clapping as a mechanism in its snapping operation, which would both stress the fingers.
Backup quarterback Isaac Wilson is a true freshman who made his first career start against Utah State, going 20-of-33 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He took first-team reps in practice this week when Rising wasn’t out there.
Wilson is the brother of former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who now plays in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.
Rising is a seventh-year senior who had emerged as one of the Pac-12’s top quarterbacks in 2021 and 2022. He has been snakebit by injuries in recent seasons, as an injury in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season ultimately led to him missing the entire 2023 season.
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