Things got heated in the Braves-Pirates series after tensions flared during a questionable strike call. Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove had already been tossed earlier in the series, and on this night, things escalated again. With an 0-2 count, Musgrove painted a high strike on the edge. The batter didn’t like it, chucked his bat and helmet, and the umpire flagged him for an equipment violation. That alone might’ve been the end of it, but the player kept going.
He made it clear he thought the pitch was too far inside, possibly near his head. The ump didn’t agree with how he expressed it and tossed him immediately. The player tried to argue that the pitch was dangerously close to his head or neck, but Major League Baseball doesn’t let you argue balls and strikes. Once you cross that line and challenge the ump directly, the ejection usually follows.
A closer look at the replay muddied things further. The strike appeared borderline but not over the plate, and definitely not at the batter’s head. The video clarity didn’t help—grainy footage made it hard to tell. But based on the angle and reaction, the pitch likely missed the mark. Still, frustration boiled over and cost the player his night.