MLB Hands Out Suspension After Astros/Rangers Brawl

 The Battle of Texas heated up to new level in Game 5 of the NLCS Friday night, as Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu beaned Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia, after he had earlier hit a mammoth homer and pimped it a bit. 

Now, Major League Baseball has come down on Abreu, handing out a two-game suspension, which could take him out of the rest of the NLCS, if not appealed. 

Astros reliever Bryan Abreu was suspended two games for what MLB deemed an intentional hit by pitch in Game 5 of the ALCS. While the suspension could be implemented before Game 6, he is expected to appeal, and it likely won’t be enforced until next season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 21, 2023

The suspension was for intentionally throwing at the batter, "taking into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety." 

As noted by Passan, Abreu is expected to appeal, which would delay the suspension until next season (which just doesn't seem quite right). 

It started with Garcia's moon shot off Justin Verlander in the bottom of the 6th inning to give Texas the lead.  

Shaping up to be one of the biggest home runs in Rangers’ postseason history. Adolis Garcia with a 3-run 💣 off Verlander pic.twitter.com/kbvyk8xzhi

— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) October 20, 2023

But in Garcia's next time at-bat, Abreu came inside with a 97 mph fastball and hit him in the upper arm. The Rangers slugger was fuming, and the benches cleared. 

Garcia hits the biggest HR of his life, gets caught up in the emotion, and you’re gonna retaliate, because Verlander left a pitch in a bad spot to get clobbered? Weak pic.twitter.com/dMW8XFE6Bv

— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) October 20, 2023

Others who were fined for their part in the brawl include Texas pitcher Matt Bush and the Astros' Lance McCullers and manager Dusty Baker.