MLB Issues Suspensions in Response to Nationals-Pirates Altercation.

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Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez and manager Davey Martinez have been suspended following an incident in which Lopez's fastball nearly struck Andrew McCutchen in the head. Lopez has been handed a three-game suspension, which he plans to appeal, while Martinez has received a one-game suspension that he will serve today. Bench coach Miguel Cairo will take over managerial duties in his absence.

The pitch to McCutchen led to both teams clearing their benches, escalating an already tense situation. The day before, Mitch Keller had hit Nationals infielder Paul DeJong in the face, resulting in a broken nose and his placement on the injured list. Prior to the incident with McCutchen, Lopez had also hit Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds with a pitch. Consequently, Lopez was ejected from the game.

The league's statement suggests that they believe Lopez was "intentionally throwing" at McCutchen, a claim Lopez has denied. McCutchen himself indicated after the game that he did not perceive any intent behind the pitch.

“It’s just the nature of the situation,” McCutchen stated when asked about the incident in a postgame interview (video link via MLB.com). “Take it as it is, even if it wasn’t on purpose, which I don’t think it was. I think the height of the moment just got to him, maybe. One got away from him, similar to [Keller]. … Just thankful I was able to move out of the way.”

Lopez has a history of command issues, having walked 10.5% of the batters he has faced this season, in addition to hitting two batters and being charged with a wild pitch, all within just 7 2/3 innings. Since 2021, he has pitched 312 1/3 innings in the major leagues, walking nearly 10% of the hitters he has faced and hitting 29 batters—2.1% of his opponents, significantly above the league average—while also being charged with 22 wild pitches.

After signing a one-year, $3 million contract during the offseason, Lopez began the season positively with the Nationals before experiencing difficulties.