MLB Ejection 017 - Phil Cuzzi (1; Max Scherzer)

1B Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Mets pitcher Max Scherzer (failed illegal substance check; repeat failure) in the 4th inning of the #Mets-#Dodgers game. While performing his MLB-mandated foreign substance inspection in the 3rd inning, 1B Umpire Cuzzi instructed Scherzer to clean his hands. When Cuzzi inspected Scherzer's hands in the 4th inning, Scherzer's hand was deemed to still be violative of the rules; Scherzer was thus ejected for violating the league's illegal substance policy, the call was irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*Crew Chief Dan Bellino in postgame comments stated: "The level of stickiness on his hand was much worse than it was even in the initial inspection that had taken place two innings prior...this was the stickiest that it has been since I've been inspecting hands, which now goes back three seasons. It was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers were sticking to his hand."

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(7) states, "The pitcher shall not have on their person, or in their possession, any foreign substance."

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 013 - James Hoye (1; Rocco Baldelli) [Germán] (4/15/23).

This is the 17th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 8th player ejection of 2023. Prior to ejection, Scherzer's line was 3.0 IP, 0 R.

This is New York's 1st ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the NL East (PHI 2; ATL, MIA, NYM 1; WAS 0).

This is Max Scherzer's 1st ejection since Sept 11, 2022 (Chad Fairchild; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Phil Cuzzi's 1st ejection since August 4, 2022 (Gabe Kapler; QOC = U [USC-NEC]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 4/19/23 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Scherzer thrown out after failing Cuzzi's illegal substance inspections (NYM-LAD)