MLB will hear Chase Utley appeal on Monday
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that Major League Baseball will hear the appeal of Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley on Monday. Utley is facing a two-game suspension for a slide that broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in Game 2 of the NLDS.
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The postponed appeal means that Utley will be eligible to play in Tuesday’s Game 4 matchup and a potential Game 5 on Thursday regardless of the decision. If the Dodgers were to be eliminated before Monday (i.e not advance to the NLCS), Utley’s suspension would apply to next season if upheld. Though it’s not clear if he’ll be in a Dodgers uniform in 2016. Utley could, however, play in the first two games of the NLCS prior to any potential suspension.
Los Angeles skipper Don Mattingly kept Utley out of the starting lineup on Monday night in favor of Howie Kendrick at second and Justin Turner at third. The Dodgers also went with Jimmy Rollins at shortstop over slugging rookie Corey Seager, though it will be interesting to see what Mattingly does Tuesday with his club’s season on the line. The righty-hitting Kendrick will likely hold down second base again facing left-hander Steven Matz, while the same goes for fellow right-handed hitter Turner at third base.