The Houston Astros have been granted a major victory in their quest for the World Series title. On Monday, Major League Baseball announced that Bryan Abreu’s suspension appeal has been approved, making him eligible to pitch in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Abreu was suspended for three games after throwing a pitch behind the head of Rays’ hitter Mike Brosseau in Game 2 of the ALCS. The suspension was originally set to begin in the World Series, but the Astros appealed the decision, citing Abreu’s lack of intent to hit Brosseau.
The decision to approve Abreu’s appeal is a huge win for the Astros, as he has been one of their most reliable pitchers this postseason. In his two appearances in the ALCS, Abreu has pitched 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters. His presence in the bullpen gives the Astros a much-needed boost in their quest for a second World Series title in three years.
Abreu’s suspension appeal approval also serves as a reminder of the importance of player safety in Major League Baseball. While Abreu was not found to have intended to hit Brosseau, MLB still took the necessary steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
The Astros now have a chance to close out the ALCS in Game 6 on Tuesday night with Abreu available to pitch. With his appeal approved, Abreu will be able to take the mound and help lead the Astros to their second World Series appearance in three years.
