ATLANTA -- Hunter Strickland's appeal to reduce a six-game suspension was denied Monday afternoon.
Strickland is set to serve his suspension immediately and will not be able to return until Sunday, when the Giants play the Mets at AT&T Park. Strickland was suspended after he hit Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper with a fastball, which began a benches-clearing incident on May 29. Harper, who charged the mound, was suspended for four games, which was reduced to three games after his appeal. He has already served the penalty.
"I definitely regret putting my team in this spot, being down a pitcher," Strickland said. "It's tough, definitely, for six games, and I regret that. But I am paying the consequences for it."
Strickland's absence will leave the Giants with seven available relief pitchers going forward. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that all relievers are good to go as Strickland's suspension begins and is happy to have the situation resolved.
"It's good to finally get this out of the way so we can focus forward," Bochy said. "It is six games that we don't have him, and we knew this was coming, and it's what they came up with. We are going to get through it with being short a pitcher in the bullpen."
Strickland can be with the team for early work and pregame training sessions, but he isn't allowed to be in uniform during his suspension. He said he plans on continuing to keep his arm ready for when he returns.
"I am going to stay in the weight room and be on top of shoulder work on and off the field," Strickland said. "I will also throw a couple bullpen sessions to try to stay fine-tuned."
Strickland went 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA in nine outings since the skirmish. His role as a setup guy will be divided up based on matchups.
"George [Kontos] is throwing the ball well, and I know he pitched last night," Bochy said. "I think that Sam [Dyson] has been throwing the ball well. So I think we will mix it up, and I think they all can handle it."