To the mild surprise of his manager, Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson was handed a one-game suspension by Major League Baseball for his Monday altercation with Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Musgrove.
Pending an appeal, Donaldson was written into the Braves lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Pirates (in which he homered).
According to reports from Pittsburgh, Musgrove was told he will not face any suspension. Because he threw only 18 pitches before he was ejected, he is scheduled to pitch the final game of the four-game series at SunTrust Park Thursday.
“Yeah, I am kind of surprised,” Brian Snitker said, confirming that Donaldson was given the suspension. “I thought he’d be fined, and that would be it.”
In the first inning Monday, a Musgrove inside pitch grazed Donaldson’s jersey. As the Braves third baseman was slowly making his way to first, the two began glaring at each other, which escalated into an angry exchange of words, prompting both benches to empty. In the turmoil, Musgrove threw off his glove and cap, ready to fight. And Donaldson was seen to shove Pittsburgh catcher Elias Diaz.
Boiling down the postgame comments, neither man much cared for the way the other was looking him. Both were ejected from the game — Donaldson’s sixth career ejection and Musgrove’s first. Also ejected, for the 61st time in his career, was Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.
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