Astros’ Ronel Blanco ejected from game for foreign substance, faces suspension

The Houston Astros may have a scandal on their hands as starting pitcher Ronel Blanco was ejected for having a foreign substance on his glove.

Here’s how the MLB rulebook defines this situation:

No player is permitted to intentionally damage, deface or discolor the baseball by rubbing it with any type of foreign object or substance, including dirt or saliva.Failure to comply with this rule will result in expulsion and an automatic 10-game suspension..

Blanco now faces a 10-game suspension at an absolutely horrible time for Houston. They will be without their most consistent pitcher this season as they attempt to return to the postseason.

Houston will now be missing a starting pitcher. This comes a day after they implemented a six-man rotation due to their long streak of games with little rest.

Now they will have to hope that Jose Urqruidy can return from injury even sooner as they will need a new arm for the next 10 days.

Blanco had been a surprising but welcome star at this point in the season. His 2024 debut saw him hitless against the Toronto Blue Jays and he remained with a 2.09 ERA after eight appearances this season. He has only allowed more than two points once this season.

He cruised against the Oakland Athletics, going three innings with just four hits allowed and four strikeouts.

Crawfish Boxes’ Astros Stats page consulted X to examine the turnover rate at its pitches compared to its season averages.

While his fastball and slider had higher spin rates, the changeup and cutter were weaker than usual. The spin rate numbers look abnormal or indicate the obvious use of a sticky substance, but Laz Diaz had enough evidence to end Blanco’s night.