Report: Bryce Harper's suspension reduced to three games

By Sports Illustrated and Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated
Published

Bryce Harper will be suspended three games instead of the original four after brawling with Giants reliever Hunter Strickland, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

MLB had given Harper four games and Strickland six, in addition to undisclosed fines, after their on-field altercation stemming from Strickland hitting Harper with a pitch on Monday. Harper charged the mound and threw his helmet at Strickland, inciting a benches–clearing brawl and leading to ejections from both players.

Harper played in Tuesday's game and is appealing his suspension, as is Strickland.

The bad blood between Harper and Strickland goes back nearly three years, when Harper homered twice of Strickland in 2014 National League Division Series. The Giants won that series on their way to a World Series title. Harper was pretty sure Strickland hit him on purpose because of those homers, and MLB's decisions 

After Wednesday's game, the Giants and Nationals won't play each other again until August 11.