Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello drops appeal, suspension reduced to 5 games

Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello had his suspension dropped from six to five games for throwing at Rays outfielder Ben Zobrist. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Tigers right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello had his suspension reduced from six games to five after he dropped his appeal, according to a Detroit Free Press report. Porcello was hit with the suspension for throwing at Rays outfielder Ben Zobrist on June 30.

Porcello initially said he disagreed with the league's decision to suspend him and appealed it. He dropped the appeal and will begin serving the suspension on Thursday. It will likely have a minimal effect on the team; Porcello wasn't scheduled to pitch in any of the last four games before the All-Star break, and he wasn't expected to start the first game back.

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Porcello will still be able to work out with the team and participate during pregame routines, he but won't be allowed in the dugout. From the Detroit Free Press report:

"To my knowledge, I can do pretty much everything up until the game," Porcello said. "It will be weird not being down there."

"It’s going to be a long suspension because of the [All-Star] break, so I gotta make sure to, mentally, stay focused as much as I can."