The iron fist of Major League Baseball discipline has come down on Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes swiftly. Barnes received a four-game suspension, as well as a fine for an undisclosed amount, “for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head” of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado.
As is typical for just about all MLB-issued suspensions of this nature, Barnes is appealing the suspension, so he will not begin to serve any games until he receives a hearing at a later date.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Sunday that MLB would also be looking into pitches thrown by Eduardo Rodriguez at Machado in Sunday’s game.