Thompson suspended 3 games for hitting Cutch

Chicago Cubs pitcher Keegan Thompson has received a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally hitting Andrew McCutchen of the Milwaukee Brewers with a pitch during the top of the eighth inning of Saturday afternoon’s game at Wrigley Field. Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations, made the announcement.

In addition, Cubs manager David Ross has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine as a result of Thompson’s intentional throwing. Ross will serve his suspension on Tuesday, when the Cubs are scheduled to begin a road series in Pittsburgh.

“The rules are the rules, and we’re going to continue to try to win ballgames and look out for our group and try to protect us as best we can and keep competing at the highest level,” Ross said before serving his suspension on Tuesday. “Sometimes, if I’ve got to kind of be the fall guy, that’s fine. … I trust my staff. They do a really good job. I’ll miss it, but I don’t really have control over it.”

Thompson has elected to appeal his suspension, which was slated to begin on Tuesday. He is eligible to pitch for the team until the appeal process is completed.

The suspensions stem from an incident in a game on Saturday at Wrigley Field that saw five batters hit by pitches between the Cubs (three hit batters) and Brewers (two). Thompson threw a first-pitch cutter to McCutchen, then threw two inside four-seamers before plunking the Brewers’ outfielder with the third. Both benches cleared in an on-field confrontation, and Thompson was ejected from the game.