Chris Davis suspended 25 games for amphetamine use

Orioles' first baseman Chris Davis has been suspended for 25 games after testing positive for amphetamines, as first reported by Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Davis will miss the Orioles' last 17 regular season games and will either serve the remaining eight games during this year's postseason or the beginning of next season.

Today's news is a fitting end to a miserable season for Davis, who hit .196/.300/.404 with 26 home runs and a league-leading 173 strikeouts in 127 games. The 28-year old had one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory in 2013 when he hit .286/.370/.634 with 53 home runs and 138 RBI en route to a third place finish in the AL MVP race, but has been unable to match that production and will now be faced with a season-ending suspension.

Davis issued a statement on Friday morning, saying that he "made a mistake by taking Adderall". Davis said that he had permission to use the drug in the past due to the therapeutic use exemption, but did not have permission this year and tested positive as a result. For Davis to be suspended, he would have had to test positive twice, as Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com pointed out.

In Davis' absence, the Orioles will turn to Steve Pearce to take over first base on a full-time basis. Pearce has had a solid year for Baltimore, hitting .287/.360/.523 with 16 home runs and 39 RBI in 90 games.