Willson Contreras Gets His Suspension Cut to 5 Games After Appeal. Here’s What Started It.

The Red Sox got some mildly good news on Thursday, which is about as much as they can hope for in a season that’s gone sideways. Willson Contreras had his seven-game suspension reduced to five games after filing an appeal, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. The suspension starts today, which means Contreras will miss the final stretch before the All-Star break and the series against the Mets this weekend.

Contreras was one of several players thrown out of last week’s game against the Nationals at Fenway Park. It all started in the fourth inning when things got chippy. Nats pitcher Cade Cavalli and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton also got suspended. Washington’s Mike Mikolas was hit with one too. Contreras was able to keep playing while the appeal process dragged on, but now that it’s settled, he’s sitting.

The scuffle that sparked everything

Video from the incident shows benches clearing after a pitch got away from Cavalli. Contreras took exception to something and the whole thing escalated fast. Nobody got seriously hurt, but the league threw the book at a few guys. Contreras was initially hit with seven games, which felt steep to some fans given that baseball fights usually end with a few days off, not a week.

The appeal worked. Sort of. He still loses five games, which is significant for a team that’s already 42-48 and looking up at most of the AL East. Contreras has been one of the few bright spots in the lineup, so losing him for even five games stings. But it could have been worse.

The Red Sox are clinging to the edges of contention. They’re not dead yet, but they’re not exactly scaring anyone either. Thursday’s game against the White Sox is the first of Contreras’s suspension. After that, it’s the Mets at home for three games before the break. Then everyone gets a few days off and maybe Boston figures out how to put a real run together in the second half.

What this means for the Red Sox

Without Contreras, the lineup loses some pop and a guy who gets on base at a decent clip. The Red Sox have been inconsistent all year, and now they’re down a middle-of-the-order bat for nearly a week. The timing isn’t great, but the team had to know this was coming. They appealed, got two games shaved off, and now they move on.

For Contreras, it’s just a few days on the shelf. He’ll be back after the break. For the Red Sox, those five games could make a difference in whether they’re buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. They’re not there yet, but every game counts when you’re hovering around .500.