Houston Astros Believe MLB Playing Favorites With Texas Rangers, Feel Cheated on Bryan Abreu Suspension: Report

The Houston Astros privately alleged that the MLB office is favoring the Texas Rangers regarding the suspension levied on reliever Bryan Abreu.

Did the Houston Astros get cheated by MLB’s decision to suspend reliever Bryan Abreu?

The defending champs sure think so.

According to a report in The Athletic, the Astros are privately “seething” at the league office for favoring the Texas Rangers in the discipline handed down after Abreu hit Adolis García in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

The incident led to both teams clearing their benches, with Abreu, García and Houston manager Dusty Baker being ejected. The Astros eventually won 5-4 on Jose Altuve’s three-run homer in the ninth.

The league announced Saturday that Abreu was being suspended for two games after ruling he intentionally hit García. No other suspensions were made despite García’s actions following being hit.

From The Athletic:

The ejection of Abreu from a postseason game and his subsequent suspension are not the only reasons the Astros are upset. Multiple players believe García also should have received a suspension for making contact with Astros catcher Martín Maldonado and for acting, in the words of crew chief James Hoye, as “the aggressor” in an incident that emptied both the benches and bullpens, but did not lead to an outright brawl.

Further feeding the conspiracy theory, Rangers general manager Chris Young previously worked in the league office as the senior vice president for baseball operations. In that role, he oversaw the on-field operations and umpiring departments, and served as the league’s principal liaison to Major League managers regarding play on the field.

The Astros, according to the report, believe the league is “showing favoritism” towards Young and the Rangers with the season on the line for both teams.

Baker said after Houston lost 9-2 in Game 6 on Sunday night that he hoped Abreu’s appeal hearing could be postponed so he could be available for Game 7. The appeal was expected to be heard Monday morning. 

The deciding game is Monday night at Minute Maid Park. Max Scherzer is starting for Texas opposite Cristian Javier. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.

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