San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez’s suspension for hitting Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with a pitch last week has been shortened from three games to two. Suarez decided to drop his appeal in light of the reduced penalty, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

The incident occurred last Thursday during the ninth inning of a game where the Padres were leading the Dodgers 5-2. Suarez hit Ohtani in the back with a pitch, which led to his immediate ejection from the game.

Events Leading Up to and Following the Hit-by-Pitch

Earlier in the ninth inning, Dodgers reliever Jack Little had hit Padres outfielder Fernando Tatís Jr. with a pitch. This was the third time in nine days a Dodgers pitcher struck Tatís, prompting tension on the field. The situation escalated when the benches cleared, resulting in both Padres manager Mike Shildt and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts being ejected after a confrontation. Each manager received a one-game suspension for their involvement.

The two managers publicly disagreed over Suarez’s intent behind hitting Ohtani, with Roberts calling the pitch intentional while Shildt insisted it was accidental. Despite the controversy, San Diego went on to secure a 5-3 victory that day. Suarez stayed active in the following games because he filed an appeal against the suspension, which was later withdrawn after the penalty was reduced.

Impact on Suarez’s Role and Upcoming Games

Robert Suarez, 34, earned his first All-Star selection last season after achieving a 9-3 record, 36 saves, and a 2.77 ERA. This year, he holds a 2-3 record with a 3.51 ERA and leads the MLB with 22 saves. According to Lin, Suarez is expected to begin serving his two-game suspension on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. Due to the Padres’ day off on Thursday, this suspension will also extend through Friday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.