Orioles' Matusz suspended 8 games after foreign substance discovered on arm; will appeal

Major League Baseball suspended Baltimore Orioles reliever Brian Matusz for eight games Monday after the 28-year-old was caught with a foreign substance on his arm during Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins.

Matusz - who was caught just days after Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Will Smith received an eight-game ban for the same infraction - will appeal his suspension.

During the 12th inning of Saturday's game in Miami, Marlins manager Dan Jennings noticed Matusz touching his right forearm between pitches, prompting him to ask crew chief Paul Emmel to inspect the left-hander. Matusz, a seven-year veteran, was promptly ejected following a brief examination.

"I think Brian Matusz's intent was pure, that he wanted to grip the ball to make a pitch," Orioles general manager Dan Duquette said Monday.

Though his suspension was scheduled to begin Monday, his punishment will be held in abeyance until the commissioner's office hears his appeal. In 14 relief appearances this season, Matusz owns a 3.18 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP, holding left-handed batters to a .511 OPS across 28 plate appearances.