Max Scherzer Receives 10-Game Suspension, Will not Appeal

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer has received a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his hand and will not appeal.
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It has been decided.

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer has been handed a 10-game suspension and $10,000 fine by Major League Baseball for having a foreign substance on his right pitching hand.

Although he was initially expected to appeal the suspension, Scherzer told reporters that he will not do so since he doesn't think he would win. He will begin serving his 10-game suspension on Thursday and will be eligible to return on May 1 against the Atlanta Braves.

"I thought I was going get in front of a neutral arbitrator, but I wasn't," Scherzer said. "It was going to be through MLB. Given that process, I wasn't going to come out on top.

"The best thing for the Mets is to come to a settlement with MLB on what the fine should be and move forward with that. That's the best thing for the Mets at this point and time."

Scherzer was ejected from the Mets' game against the Dodgers on Wednesday for having too much rosin on his hand. 

Scherzer's issue with the situation is that there is no way to measure how much rosin can and cannot be used. Due to the varying conditions in different cities, Scherzer says It's hard for a pitcher to know how much rosin to use.

"I hope that we can modify the rule," he continued. "The intent of this rule was to clean up the game. I don't think it was intended to crack down on pitchers that were using legal substances. I used legal substances."

READ MORE:

- Mets' Starling Marte Still Dealing With Neck Issue

- Max Scherzer Ejected From Mets-Dodgers Game

- Mets Place Carlos Carrasco on IL

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Pat Ragazzo
PAT RAGAZZO

Pat Ragazzo is the reporter, publisher, site manager and executive editor for Sports Illustrated's Mets and Yankees On SI websites. Pat was selected as The Top Reporter & Publisher of the Year 2024 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. He has been seen on several major TV Network stations including: NBC4, CBS2, FOX5, PIX11 and NY1; and is frequently heard on ESPN New York FM 880 AM and WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM as a guest. Pat also serves as the Mets insider for the "Allow Me 2 Be Frank" podcast hosted by Frank "The Tank" Fleming of Barstool Sports. You can follow him on Twitter/X: @ragazzoreport.