Matt Kemp, Robinson Chirinos Suspended 1 Game for Bench-Clearing Brawl

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos were both ejected for their roles in Wednesday's bench-clearing incident, but they both now face additional discipline.

Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported Friday that MLB has handed down one-game suspensions to both players. DiGiovanna added that Kemp is appealing his ban.

The benches cleared after Kemp ran Chirinos over in a play at the plate in the bottom of the third inning:

Shoves were exchanged, but no punches were thrown in the altercation.

Kemp—a 13-year veteran—refused to make a big deal out of the collision after the game, telling reporters, via ESPN.com, that it was "two guys shoving each other, and it's over." He also noted he opted to barrel through the catcher to try to avoid suffering a similar injury that he dealt with in the past:

"He was blocking the plate. I don't know the rule. I don't even know how it works. I didn't have a clear path to slide. All I could really think about when I saw him blocking the plate was Washington when I slid into home and messed up my ankle. I didn't want to do that again.''

Chirinos, meanwhile, revealed it was what Kemp did after the collision that got to him.

"I didn't know he was going to come after me like that. I got mad when Kemp got up, and he leaned into me and put his shoulder into me. That's when I rushed him. Everyone knows the rule, they preach it to us in spring training. It was emotional."

A play like this was common in baseball just a few years ago. However, the "Buster Posey rule" has changed the way the game is played, making collisions like this rare.

If Kemp's suspension is upheld, Los Angeles would miss his bat in the lineup. After being acquired in an exchange of bad contracts this past offseason, the 33-year-old has gotten off to an incredible start this year, hitting .335 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles and 41 RBI.

As he said after Wednesday's game, though, he believes the new rules are unclear. That will likely be brought up during the appeal process.

Chirinos is hitting .196 with eight home runs, eight doubles and 22 RBI in 52 games.