MLB suspends Michael Pineda ten games for pine tar use

Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that they have suspended Yankees' starter Michael Pineda for ten games due to his use of pine tar during his start against the Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Yankees RHP Michael Pineda suspended 10 games, starting tonight, for possessing a foreign substance during Wednesday’s game at Fenway Park.

— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2014

Pineda was ejected from his start on Wednesday in the second inning, when Red Sox' manager John Farrell asked home plate umpire Gerry Davis to check what appeared to be a foreign substance on Pineda's neck. After walking out to the mound and inspecting Pineda's glove, Davis felt the substance on Pineda's neck and immediately ejected him.

This incident comes just two weeks after Pineda appeared to have pine tar all over his wrist during a start against Boston at Yankee Stadium, during which the Sox appeared to take notice after the right-hander had removed the substance. Farrell vowed to be more vigilant about Pineda's use of pine tar in the future, ultimately leading to the ejection on Wednesday.

With Pineda's suspension starting tonight, he will be able to return on May 5 against the Angels. Because the Yankees have an off day on Monday, Pineda will only miss one turn in the rotation, causing the Yankees to use an extra starter on May 3 against the Rays. With Pineda suspended and Ivan Nova likely headed towards Tommy John surgery, the Yankees are looking at a weak back-end of the rotation that may include Vidal Nuno and David Phelps in the near future.