Blue Jays' Cabrera appealing 3-game ban for role in bench-clearing incident with Rays

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Genesis Cabrera has received a three-game suspension and fined for his role in a bench-clearing incident in a 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

The amount of the fine of was undisclosed. However, Cabrera has filed an appeal so the discipline will be held in abeyance until the appeal process is complete.

Rays shortstop Jose Caballero drove in a run with a bunt single and continued around the bases on third baseman Justin Turner's throwing error. After Caballero was tagged out at third for the final out of the inning, Cabrera, who was backing up third base, exchanged words with Caballero and shoved the infielder. Cabrera was ejected.

"I will say it was more like the heat of the moment," Cabrera said through an interpreter. "I mean, I think we all kind of overreact a little bit. … He kind of looked at me and I just react. … It's part of the game sometimes, but it's over with. It's where it ends, right there."

Caballero's momentum caused him to bump into Cabrera leading to the exchange of words.

Caballero did not retaliate but both benches cleared with no other skirmishes taking place.

Cabrera, 27, allowed one run on two hits in one inning of a no-decision on Saturday. He owns a 14-11 record with a 4.00 earned-run average in 204 career games (two starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blue Jays.

Toronto defeated Tampa Bay 9-2 in the finale of its four-game series on Sunday.

In other Blue Jays news, starting shortstop Bo Bichette was a late scratch from Sunday's game at Tampa Bay due to neck spasms.

The 2023 American League all-star was replaced by Ernie Clement.

Bichette had two hits in 12 at-bats (.167) with two runs batted in through the first three games of the season.

Third baseman Justin Turner hit third in the lineup in place of Bichette.

Ace Kevin Gausman, whose spring training debut was delayed until March 25 because of shoulder fatigue, made his first start.

Twins lose ex-Jays product DeSclafani for season

The Minnesota Twins announced Saturday that right-hander Anthony DeSclafani underwent surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his forearm and would miss the entire season.

DeSclafani, who the Toronto Blue Jays chose in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft, was expected to fill out the back of the rotation before he was diagnosed with a right elbow strain in March and placed on the 60-day injured list before the season.

DeSclafani was 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA in 19 appearances for San Francisco last season, though he did not pitch after July 23 due to a forearm strain. He was traded to Seattle in January, then sent to the Twins in a deal three weeks later.

Derek Falvey, the Twins' president of baseball operations said the recovery time for similar procedures is about 13 months.

"It's not a Tommy John, so it's a little different type of return," Falvey said. "I think when he went there, we knew that was in consideration, and I think a lot of the conversation was around, is it the ligament or the ulnar collateral ligament [in the elbow]. It ended up being the flexor tendon that needed to be repaired."

DeSclafani is in the American League for the first time after spending nine seasons with the Miami Marlins (2014), Cincinnati Reds (2015-20) and Giants.

In 180 career appearances (169 starts), DeSclafani is 54-56 with a 4.20 ERA.