MLB notebook: Eight suspended for Reds-Pirates brawl

Major League Baseball handed down eight suspensions Thursday stemming from the bench-clearing brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Three players from each team and both managers were disciplined, including undisclosed fines. All six players have appealed the decision, delaying the start of the potential suspensions.

"The incidents between these two clubs remain a source of concern, and it's reflected by the level of discipline we are handing down today," MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre said in a statement. Suspensions went to Pittsburgh pitcher Keone Kela (10 games), infielder Jose Osuna (five), pitcher Kyle Crick (three) and manager Clint Hurdle (two). Disciplined for Cincinnati were pitcher Amir Garrett (eight), pitcher Jared Hughes (three) and manager David Bell (six). Former Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig, who was later traded to the Cleveland Indians, got a three-game suspension.

--Houston won the trade deadline and scored a leg up in baseball's arms race Wednesday by acquiring pitchers Zack Greinke and Aaron Sanchez, bumping the Astros to co-favorites for the 2019 World Series. Houston climbed over the New York Yankees as the leading favorite to win the American League and pulled even with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the National League pick since the first month of the season -- according to PointsBet.com, Bovada, and Caesars Palace.

FanDuel Sportsbook elevated Houston to the betting favorite at 2-1 over the Dodgers (3-1) and Yankees (5-1). --Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain hemorrhage during a game while pitching for the Chicago White Sox more than a year ago, announced his retirement from baseball on Instagram.

"As a 32-year-old kid, I am closing a chapter much sooner than anticipated," he wrote. "But I am proud of the perseverance I have had, overcoming obstacles through every season, and can ultimately hang up my cleats knowing I left all I had on the field that I love." Farquhar, released by the Yankees in June after signing a minor-league deal five months earlier in hopes of a comeback, told the Chicago Sun-Times he will begin a job with the White Sox as a pitching instructor in the minor leagues.

--Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon is expected to undergo surgery to repair his elbow flexor tendon in the next few weeks, according to The Athletic. His recovery should be seven to nine months, and doctors believe he can avoid Tommy John ligament reconstruction surgery that would keep him out all of next season.

The Pirates placed Taillon on the injured list in early May for what was described as a right elbow flexor strain. The 27-year-old was 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over seven starts in 2019. --Cleveland manager Terry Francona underwent unexpected eye surgery and missed the Indians' series finale against the Houston Astros.

Bench coach Brad Mills filled in for Francona, who is expected to rejoin the team for Friday for the start of a three-game series with the visiting Los Angeles Angels. --The Chicago White Sox optioned first baseman AJ Reed to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. Reed, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros on July 8. He is hitting .136 (6-for-44) with one home run and four RBIs in 14 games this season.

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