What happened: Major League Baseball has issued a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine to San Diego Padres reliever Ron Marinaccio. The discipline stems from a ninth-inning incident during Saturday's 9-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, where Marinaccio hit shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the elbow with his first pitch.
Why it matters: League officials ruled the pitch intentional, following an earlier hit-by-pitch that struck Padres star Xander Bogaerts. Ron Marinaccio has filed an appeal, which permits him to remain on the active roster while the Padres continue their road trip in St. Louis.
By the numbers: Padres: 37-33, 2nd in NL West. Cardinals: 38-31, 2nd in NL Central. San Diego is currently 3-2 in their last five games while averaging 3.9 runs per contest.
What to watch: Marinaccio remains available for tonight's scheduled matchup against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. If the suspension is upheld after the appeal, the Padres will be forced to play with a 25-man roster for the duration of the ban.