Abreu's suspension upheld but deferred to 2024

HOUSTON -- Astros reliever Bryan Abreu's two-game suspension for hitting Adolis García with a pitch in Game 5 of the ALCS was upheld upon Abreu's appeal, but it will be deferred until the first two games of the 2024 season, Major League Baseball announced on Monday.

Abreu said he was present at a hearing on Monday prior to Game 7 of the ALCS against the Rangers in which he made the case he didn’t intentionally hit García with a pitch after García had hit a three-run homer in his previous at-bat. García, Abreu and Astros manager Dusty Baker were ejected after the resulting benches-clearing incident.

Abreu didn’t get the suspension reduced, but was happy to be available to pitch in Game 7.

“Of course, I’m glad to be here and try to help the team to win,” Abreu said.

Baker said he considered using Abreu for two innings in Game 6 in anticipation of him not being able to pitch in Game 7. Abreu threw one inning in Houston’s 9-2 loss to the Rangers that evened the series, allowing one run and two hits.

“Well, that was kind of what I was hoping for when I didn't use him in a down game two innings yesterday,” Baker said Monday. “He told me he was prepared to throw as many as possible just in case he had to serve a suspension. So it's a blessing to have him for today.”

Abreu is one of the Astros’ best relievers and was used as the setup man for closer Ryan Pressly for much of the season, so his availability for Game 7 is a big break for Houston. Abreu struck out García in the eighth inning of Game 6 on a 99 mph fastball.

“I just had in my mind, ‘Just keep executing all your pitches, just keep attacking the strike zone, just keep making outs,’” Abreu said.

In Game 5 of the ALCS on Friday, Abreu hit García in the left shoulder with a 99 mph fastball -- the first pitch of the at-bat -- which sparked a benches-clearing incident as García immediately confronted Astros catcher Martín Maldonado. Baker and García were later fined, as were Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and Rangers pitcher Matt Bush. McCullers and Bush are not allowed to sit in the dugout for the remainder of the ALCS.

The incident occurred in García’s first at-bat following his three-run home run off Justin Verlander that put the Rangers ahead in the sixth, when García spiked his bat and began a long trot. Houston went on to win the game, 5-4, thanks to a three-run homer by Jose Altuve in the top of the ninth.