Two days after being handed a five-game suspension, Kansas City pitcher Edinson Volquez has decided to accept it, starting tonight when the Royals play the Cleveland Indians.
Volquez announced today that he is dropping his appeal of the suspension, which Major League Baseball handed down Saturday. His suspension -- along with seven games for pitcher Yordano Ventura and two games each for outfielder Lorenzo Cain and pitcher Kelvin Herrera -- were the result of their role in a benches-clearing brawl with the Chicago White Sox last Thursday. Two White Sox pitchers also received suspensions, and one Chicago player was fined.
Appeals by Ventura, Cain and Herrera are pending.
Volquez pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs (only one earned) while taking the loss in the Royals' series finale against the White Sox on Sunday. His regular turn in the rotation would have come up Friday against Detroit, but he now will be eligible to return to action Saturday in the third of a four-game series against the Tigers.
