Hunter Strickland suspended 6 games, Bryce Harper 3 games for role in brawl

UPDATE (Wednesday): Harper’s suspension has been reduced to three games on appeal, according to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal.
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ORIGINAL (Tuesday): Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland received a 6-game suspension and Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper received a 4-game suspension for their roles in Monday’s brawl, according to an announcement from Major League Baseball.

Both Strickland and Harper were fined an undisclosed amount and have appealed the suspension.

Strickland, who incited the brawl by throwing at Harper during Monday’s game in San Francisco, was widely expected to receive a harsher ban than Harper, who immediately charged the mound and threw punches. Strickland’s frustration with Harper dates back to the 2014 NLDS, when Harper hit two key home runs off him and late innings and the pair exchanged words.

No one other than Strickland and Harper was ejected from Monday’s game, so it’s not a surprise that no one else was disciplined for the league today. Giants Mike Morse and Jeff Samardzija were also right in the middle of the action, but ended up doing more damage to each other than any Nationals’ combatants.