Report: Some Astros Players Believe Rangers' Adolis García Should've Been Suspended

The Houston Astros are not happy with the two-game suspension handed out to relief pitcher Bryan Abreu after he hit Adolis García late in Game 5 of the ALCS, and even less happy that García didn't face any punishment for the altercation that followed.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, "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."

Houston's main argument against Abreu's two-game suspension—his appeal will be heard ahead of Monday night's decisive Game 7—was that he didn't hit García on purpose, primarily because it wouldn't have made any sense to do so.

The incident occurred in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 5 with no outs, a runner on first and the Rangers leading at the time, 4-2. The Astros were still in the game, in other words, and putting another runner on base wasn't a logical move.

"My plan was to get the ball up and in, then slider down and away," Abreu told reporters after the game. "I just missed the pitch."

Abreu's absence for Game 7 of the ALCS—and potentially Game 1 of the World Series, if Houston advances—would be an enormous blow. He's been one of Houston's most important relievers, going 3-2 in the regular season with a 1.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 100 strikeouts and five saves in 72 appearances.

He's been just as solid in the postseason, with a 2.45 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in eight games.

Because Abreu was ejected by the umpires during the game, Rosenthal noted it's very unlikely that his suspension will be overturned on appeal. He added that García likely isn't going to be further punished since Major League Baseball "generally acts on precedent in such matters, and suspends a position player only if he commits a truly violent act, such as throwing a punch."

All six umpires on the field determined that Abreu had purposefully thrown at García, potentially because the Rangers slugger had blasted a three-run homer in his previous at-bat and slammed his bat on the ground after doing so.

"The guy hits a three-run homer; the next time up, he gets smoked there," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters at the time. "I'd be upset, too, if I was Doli."

He additionally reported that the Astros believe bias is working against them, both because of their prior sign-stealing scandal and because Rangers general manager, Chris Young, previously worked for MLB between May 2018 and Dec. 2020, eventually rising to the role of senior vice president.

In that role he replaced Joe Torre "as the official who decided suspensions and fines for on-field matters, such as intentionally hitting batters," Rosenthal noted.

It's hard to ignore the irony there, though Major League Baseball showing bias in favor of the Rangers because of Young's background with the league office seems unlikely. The Astros may not like Abreu's likely suspension—and for good reason—but it's precedent that will ultimately uphold it, not bias.