MLB Suspends New York Mets Pitcher Max Scherzer

MLB Suspends New York Mets Pitcher Max Scherzer

MLB officials have been cracking down on pitchers using illegal substances to get a better grip on the baseball and induce a higher spin rate. Pitchers are only allowed to use the rosin bag behind the pitcher s mound, and using anything else could warrant an ejection.

Many pitchers apply sunscreen lotion on their arms. When the lotion is mixed with sweat and rosin, it forms a sticky substance. Pitchers have been using that method for more than half of a century, and umpires looked the other way, with the exception of Cuzzi.

I hope that we can modify the rule, . The intent of this rule was to try to clean up the game, clean up the stuff that was really causing spin rates to spike and all that stuff. I don t think it was intended to crack down on pitchers that were using legal substances. I used legal substances.

Before Scherzer s ejection on Wednesday, only two other pitchers were tossed from a game because of the newly-enforced substance rules. Both instances involved Cuzzi in 2021. He ejected pitchers Hector Santiago from the Seattle Mariners and Caleb Smith from the Arizona Diamondbacks for illegal substance violations.

No one can explain what is too sticky, said Scherzer s agent, Scott Boras. There are no units of stickiness to quantify. How do you appropriately enforce? MLB attempts to level the playing field by using standards that are not measurable. Further, one umpire has a stickiness standard that is different than all other umpires.

Scherzer is expected to miss at least two starts while serving a 10-game suspension. News about his suspension didn t alter the futures market.

The Mets had a short-handed starting rotation before losing Scherzer. Right-handed ace has yet to take the mound this season. He s been on the IL with a strained muscle in his right shoulder, and the Mets expect him back by the start of May.

The Mets were only 5-5 after the first 10 games but turned around their season in the last 10 with an 8-2 clip. The Mets are currently in second place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves (14-5) and are fourth overall in the National League.

The Mets are +850 odds to win the 2023 World Series and are the fourth-highest team on DraftKings futures board.

The Braves are the consensus favorite to win the National League pennant at +280 odds, while the Mets are second overall at +400.

Oddsmakers anticipate a two-team race to win the NL East division title. The Braves are also the betting favorite to win the NL East at -165 odds. The Mets are right behind them at +165 odds.

Before the season began, the Mets had a win total of 93.5 over/under, according to DraftKings. The Mets were the fourth-highest team overall and tied with the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees.