Major League Baseball has upheld a six-game suspension of San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland for his role in a bench-clearing brawl with the Washington Nationals last month.
Bay Area media outlets reported Strickland will begin serving his suspension with Monday night's game at Atlanta. He would be eligible to return June 26 against the Chicago Cubs.
Strickland's punishment was levied almost three weeks ago but delayed pending Strickland's appeal. He also was fined.
Strickland and Nationals star Bryce Harper were suspended after the Giants reliever hit Harper in the hip with a pitch in the eighth inning during the Nationals' 3-0 win May 29 at San Francisco.