On Friday, Major League Baseball announced multiple suspensions after Thursday's benches-clearing brawl between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. While the Tigers received the biggest hits with Miguel Cabrera's seven-game ban and reliever Alex Wilson's four-game suspension, the Yankees will be without catcher Gary Sanchez for four games.
Sanchez, who will likely appeal the suspension, received the four-game ban after he came out of the dugout and threw punches during the fight. An appeal would likely allow him to play in Friday's game and could carry over into the weekend as MLB sorts through multiple appeals and then hears Sanchez's case for the suspension to be reduced.
His absence, whether it's four or fewer games, will serve as a blow to New York's lineup. With Aaron Judge in a prolonged slump, it is Sanchez's bat that continues to keep New York's playoff hopes alive. Across 90 plate appearances in August, Sanchez hit 11 home runs, drove in 23 runs and posted a 198 wRC+. The numbers are very similar to the incredible performance he put up at this time last year.
Along with Sanchez, New York's backup catcher Austin Romine received a suspension as well. MLB suspended Romine for two games for his involvement in the fight, though New York may opt to have him serve it immediately so his suspension doesn't line up with Sanchez's and leave New York with no active catchers on the roster.