Mets pitcher ejected after heated row with umpires over sticky substance

19 April 2023 , 22:21

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Max Scherzer gave up no runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers before he was ejected (Image: Ashley Landis/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

New York Mets ace Max Scherzer was ejected from the contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning after umpires checked his glove and found a sticky substance.

During Wednesday’s clash with the Dodgers, Scherzer - who joined the Mets in 2022 after leaving the Los Angeles franchise - was tossed from the game before he took the mound in the fourth inning. The incident came after multiple conversations with umpires about his glove, which got particularly heated.

Scherzer first met with umpires earlier in the second inning for a routine sticky substances check. When the 38-year-old returned for the third, the officials asked him to swap his glove for a new one and he duly obliged.

In the bottom of the fourth, Scherzer was stopped once again which led to a fierce animated clash between the Mets star and the umpires, along with New York manager Buck Showalter.

A minute passed before crew chief Phil Cuzzi ejected Scherzer, who had allowed just one hit and no runs to go with three strikeouts in three innings. Before his ejection, Scherzer appeared to yell at the umpires: “It’s just rosin. It’s just rosin!”

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He reluctantly went to the dugout after the row. Jimmy Yacabonis was called in to replace Scherzer and was given time to warm up and get ready following the sudden lineup change.

Max Scherzer complains with New York Mets manager Buck Showalter after his ejection (Getty Images)

This is not the first time Scherzer has clashed with umpires following a sticky substance check. Back in 2021 when he played for the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi called for multiple substance checks which led Scherzer to throw his cap to the ground, remove his belt and begin to remove his pants in frustration.

Scherzer’s ejection against the Dodgers is the fourth of his career, although the previous three came when he was on the bench. It’s a particularly ill-timed call for the Mets, as the team just placed Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day injured list while Jose Quintana is out until July at the earliest. Big money free agency signing Justin Verlander is yet to pitch since leaving the Houston Astros.

It’s the second incident involving a sticky substance in the 2023 MLB season. New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German was ordered to wash the rosin from his hands against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, with Twins manager Rocco Baldelli insisting the 30-year-old should have been ejected for ‘cheating’.

Andrew Gamble