MLB announced this afternoon that Mets reliever Hansel Robles has been suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount for “intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area” of Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp on Wednesday night.
Intent was suspected, as three players were hit by pitches before Robles threw at Rupp. It all started when Yoenis Cespedes was forced to exit when he was hit in the hand by Justin De Fratus in the third inning. Kirk Nieuwenhuis was hit in the back by Adam Loewen two innings later, which led to Logan Verrett hitting Odubel Herrera in the back in the top of the sixth. Warnings were issued to both sides after that, so Robles and Mets manager Terry Collins were both ejected after the incident with Rupp. For what it’s worth, Robles told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com that the pitch simply got away from him.
It’s unclear whether Robles will appeal the suspension, but either way, it won’t have any impact on his availability during the postseason. If he doesn’t serve the suspension this season, it would roll over to the start of 2016. Odds are he’ll just take the punishment and sit out the Mets’ weekend series against the Nationals.