What happened: Major League Baseball handed down discipline stemming from Tuesday's benches-clearing brawl between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli and Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras were each issued seven-game suspensions, while Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas also drew a ban. Four players were disciplined in all.

Why it matters: A seven-game absence costs Cavalli at least one turn through the rotation as Washington (45-43) works to hold its narrow edge in a crowded stretch. Losing Contreras' bat pulls a middle-of-the-order presence out of Boston's lineup over the holiday slate, and the layered penalties leave both clubs shorthanded at once.

What to watch: Appeals could reduce or delay the penalties; watch whether Cavalli and Contreras remain active while any appeal is heard.