Manny Machado banned 4 games, fined after brawl with Royals

— -- Major League Baseball has suspended infielder Manny Machado four games and fined him $2,500 for his role in a benches-clearing brawl that started Tuesday when Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura hit him with a pitch, according to ESPN sources and media reports.

Machado is reportedly appealing the suspension. He was listed as being in the lineup, batting third, for Thursday night's game against Toronto.

USA Today Sports first reported the penalties Thursday. 

There was no immediate word on what discipline Ventura might face.

In the bottom of the fifth inning of Tuesday's series opener, Machado was hit in the back by a 99 mph fastball from Ventura. Machado immediately dropped his bat, threw down his helmet, and charged the mound, where he threw a punch at Ventura's head and wrestled the Royals' starter to the ground.

In the second inning of the game, Ventura had thrown two fastballs inside to Machado, who ultimately flied out to left field. As he headed toward first base, Machado barked at Ventura while staring him down.

For the 23-year old Machado, who's been ejected three times previously, this is the second career suspension. On June 8, 2014, two days after he had a heated exchange with Oakland Athletics infielder Josh Donaldson following a rough tag at third base, Machado was ejected for throwing his bat down the third base line. Two days later, on June 10, he was suspended for five games by MLB, but the suspension didn't take effect until nearly three weeks later on June 30, following a prolonged appeals process.

Ventura has been ejected twice previously, including once in April 2015 for inciting a benches-clearing brawl between the Royals and the division rival Chicago White Sox. The 25-year old right-hander was suspended seven games for his role in that incident, his only prior suspension.

Machado, the third overall pick in 2010, has been an All-Star twice and has won two Gold Gloves at third base. He has spent the past five weeks at shortstop, filling in for injured starter J.J. Hardy. After playing in all 162 games last season, he's started every one of Baltimore's 58 games this year, batting .303 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI's. He's played in 220 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.

Ventura is 4-4 with a 5.32 ERA for Kansas City this year. Now in his fourth big-league season, the Dominican-born hurler is 31-23 lifetime with a 3.87 ERA.

Last month, Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor was suspended seven games for punching Jose Bautista following an aggressive slide by the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder. Bautista received a one-game suspension.

Information from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark was used in this report.