MLB: No plans to suspend Michael Pineda

Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda had a dark substance on his palm during last night's game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

MLB issued a statement regarding New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda, saying that because the umpires in last night's 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox did not see a substance on Pineda's hands, they could not do anything about it.

The statement from MLB spokesman Pat Courtney also said that there is no reason to suspend Pineda, but MLB plans to talk with the Yankees about the incident.

Pineda had appeared to have pine tar on the palm of his right hand during the first four innings of the game, but when Pineda came out for the fifth, it appeared that the substance was gone.

Pineda said he doesn't use pine tar and instead the substance in question was dirt, which he applied because he was sweating too much on his hand between innings.

"The umpires did not observe an application of a foreign substance during the game and the issue was not raised by the Red Sox. Given those circumstances, there are no plans to issue a suspension, but we intend to talk to the Yankees regarding what occurred.” Courtney said, via the Boston Globe.

Major League rules state that a pitcher may not "apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball."

Making his second start of the season, Pineda mowed down the Red Sox, throwing six innings, giving up an earned run and striking out seven.

CORCORAN: Michael Pineda’s pine-tar fracas shows sticky stuff not a real concern for MLB