KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura dropped his appeal and will begin serving his seven-game suspension Thursday. He is eligible to return to action May 8 in Detroit.
Ventura was suspended for his role in the April 23 brawl between the White Sox and Royals, along with Edinson Volquez (five games), Lorenzo Cain (two) and Kelvin Herrera (two). All four had initially appealed their punishments, but Volquez and Ventura have since dropped their respective appeals. Volquez can return Saturday.
Ventura started Wednesday night in Cleveland, pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up five runs on six hits. But by dismissing his appeal Thursday, Kansas City can survive his absence without using another spot starter. (Chris Young is scheduled to start Friday in Volquez's place).
"If he drops his appeal now, we can get through it unscathed from here on out," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Kansas City has an off day Monday, which allows pitchers an extra day of rest and enables the club to shake up the rotation. If the Royals maintain their rotation order, slotting in Volquez Saturday and Ventura on May 8, only one starter will be pitching on four days' rest. All the rest will have more.
Last Thursday in Chicago, Ventura's actions sparked the benches and bullpens to clear and ignited a fight that resulted in five ejections. After fielding Adam Eaton's grounder and hearing Eaton say something to him, Ventura barked back. The teams then rushed onto the field and congregated at first base, where Jeff Samardzija sought out Cain on multiple occasions.
Ventura had previously been fined by the league for throwing intentionally at Oakland's Brett Lawrie.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
