Midday Recap: MLB Squeezes Juiced Up Players

Well, by now you already know what the big story today is.

The hammer comes down as 13 players are suspended in the Major League Baseball Biogenesis investigation.  Unsurprising, Alex Rodriguez gets the stiffest penalty, suspended through the end of the 2014 season, which he is appealing.

The appeal allows A-Rod to continue playing for the Yankees during the appeals process, which is expected to last for the remainder of the 2013 season.  Because of that, the Yankee 3rd baseman was in the lineup, batting clean-up as the Yankees visited the Chicago White Sox.

Greeted by a roar of boos from the home crowd, A-Rod went 1 for 4, including a strikeout, as Andy Pettitte allowed 7 runs on 11 hits in the Yankees 8-1 loss.

Associated Press

The other 12 suspended for 50 games include Jordany Valdespin, whose animated personality frustrated Mets players and management, especially earlier this season when he got into an argument when being told he was going to be sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas.  Cesar Puello, who is on the Mets 40-man roster and was batting .328 with the Double-A team in Binghamton, also received a 50 game suspension.

Francisco Cervelli of the Yankees also took a 50 game suspension.  Cervelli was batting .269 with three home runs in his 17 games as catcher.

The suspensions make up the largest quantity of off-field suspensions since Major League Baseball handed its suspensions in the 1919 World Series fix attempt.

But the Biogenesis suspensions isn't the only news from yesterday.  The Los Angeles Dodgers are closer to history with their 15th road win in a row.  Adam Wainwright gave up two hits in his first three innings, but found himself in trouble in the 4th inning when he walked Adrian Gonzalez, surrendered a double to Yasiel Puig, and then gave up a single to Andre Ethier that brought Gonzalez home.  An A.J. Ellis ground out yielded the inning's first out, but also a run as Puig came home on the force play.

Pitcher Zack Greinke contributed to his own cause with a single in the 7th inning to score Nick Punto.  It was important that he did, as the Cardinals would get one back in the bottom half of the inning as Adron Cambers scores on a Allen Craig ground out to get back within 1.

The Cardinals gained one more base runner in the 8th when David Freese was hit by a pitch to lead off, but he was taken out as Tony Cruz hit into the inning-ending double play, and the Dodgers would go on to win 3-2.

Zack Greinke's 100th win comes as the Dodgers build a 6 game cushion over Arizona for the top spot in the National League West, and helps extend the Dodgers road win streak to 15.  The 15 road wins ties the Dodgers for 3rd all-time, two back of the all-time record held by both the 1916 New York Giants and the 1984 Detroit Tigers.

And finally a belated congratulations to the winning connections of Cross Traffic, winner of Saturday's Whitney Invitational.  John Velazquez teamed up with trainer Todd Pletcher to ride the lightly-raced horse, who heading into the race had only 4 starts.  But now, at 5 starts, the 4 year old horse will have a spot reserved for him in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Don't Forget: The Buffalo Bills start their 2013 Preseason as they travel to Indianapolis to face Andrew Luck and the Colts this Sunday.  Kickoff is at 1:30PM live on 1410 CBS Sports Radio.