Same crime, different punishments.
Hours after reducing Milwaukee Brewers reliever Will Smith’s suspension from eight to six games, MLB on Friday upheld the eight-game ban given to Baltimore Orioles reliever Brian Matusz for the same offence — having an illegal substance on his arm while he was on the mound. Both pitchers appealed their original suspension.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Smith’s suspension was reduced by two games based on a MLB formula for punishment based on games pitched.
Smith, who started serving his suspension Friday, was punished after being caught with a foreign susbstance on his arm during a relief appearance against the Atlanta Braves on May 21.