Pitchers who violate ‘sticky stuff’ rules will face 10-game suspensions, MLB says

MLB, in a news release explaining its new guidance, disputed the idea that use of foreign substances increases player safety, noting that as pitchers used foreign substances at high rates this year, hit-by-pitch rates still climbed. In its memo to teams, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, MLB went further, alleging that widespread use of foreign substances “appears to be contributing to an overall decline in control because it enables a style of pitching in which pitchers sacrifice control in favor of spin and velocity.”