Major League Baseball suspended Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez for three games and manager Davey Martinez for one game after Lopez pitched dangerously close to Andrew McCutchen's head. This incident escalated tensions, especially following another game where Mitch Keller injured a Nats player. Although Lopez was ejected and the league suspected intent, both Lopez and McCutchen denied this. Lopez's pitching issues have been highlighted, with a notable percentage of walks and hit batsmen throughout his tenure, raising concerns about his command on the mound.
It's just the nature of the situation. Take it as is, even if it wasn't on purpose, which I don't think it was. I think the height of the moment just got to him, maybe.
The league's announcement indicates they believe Lopez to have been intentionally throwing at McCutchen. Lopez has denied that, and even McCutchen himself suggested after the game that he didn't believe there was intent behind the pitch.
Command troubles aren't exactly new for Lopez. He's walked 10.5% of his opponents this season, and that all comes in just 7 2/3 innings of work.
Lopez has pitched 312 1/3 big league innings and walked nearly 10% of the batters he's faced, and been charged with 22 wild pitches.
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