MLB comes down on Ryan Tepera for instigating more Cubs-Brewers drama

MLB punished Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Tepera for throwing behind Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff.

Drama is abound in the NL Central early this season, with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals giving way to the Cubs-Brewers feud this week. This all started thanks to a benches-clearing incident after Willson Contreras was plunked yet again by Brewers pitching and didn’t take kindly to it.

The two sides played just a few days ago, with Tepera sending yet another message to the Brewers, throwing behind Woodruff, which resulted in a stare-down of epic proportions. This was clear payback for Contreras, who would hit a decisive bomb later that same game and get his own form of revenge.

MLB isn’t messing around with COVID-19 regulations

While COVID-19 isn’t the only reason MLB has suspended the likes of Tepera and Nicholas Castellanos, it certainly does play a role. Players aren’t supposed to instigate any form of unnecessary contact, which this would certainly fall under.

It doesn’t help that the Cubs and Brewers have a longstanding rivalry, which MLB is trying to nip in the bid on Thursday by handing down suspensions to Tepera and Ross. However, such punishments are one-sided (and deserved), meaning the Cubs could feel slighted.

Tepera will appeal his suspension, but expect it to fall on deaf ears. Such regulations were agreed to by the Players’ Union, meaning any player which violates protocol doesn’t have a whole lot of say in the matter. Perhaps Tepera can get his punishment docked by a game, though we wouldn’t count on it.