MLB REPORT

SCOUTING CARDS RULED LEGAL

No need to call them cheat sheets.

Major League Baseball told teams that it's perfectly OK for pitchers to carry the kind of scouting cards that umpire Joe West confiscated from Philadelphia reliever Austin Davis on the mound this weekend.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said he'd been informed the cards were legal. They are, provided they don't delay games, MLB advised clubs in clarifying the policy.

“I think it's great that our pitchers are able to have their game plans on them,” Kapler said on Sunday. “I think it takes a lot of mental focus, takes a lot of bandwidth to get out the best hitters in baseball. And when you can just take a little of that off your mind and put it on a card, I think that's helpful for pitchers and good for baseball.”

The unusual situation occurred Saturday night in the eighth inning at Philadelphia.

The Cubs were ahead 5-1 as Addison Russell approached the plate. Davis took the reference card from his back pocket, checked the scouting report on Russell, and then put it away.

West, in his 41st season as an umpire, came in from third base and took the card. He said it was illegal under Rule 6.02(c)(7), which states that the pitcher shall not have on his person, or in his possession, any foreign substance.

BOSTON RED SOX

Starting pitchers Chris Sale and David Price could return to the rotation as early as next weekend, manager Alex Cora said.

For both lefthanders, the club is looking at its next homestand, which begins on Friday with three games against Houston before three games against Toronto and a three-game set against the Mets.

Sale, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 15 for mild inflammation in his left shoulder, could pitch a few innings as an “opener” as he builds up innings, Cora said.

The team hopes that Price, who has a bruised left wrist, will be able to throw off a mound this week in Atlanta as he works his way back.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Manager Aaron Boone served a one-game suspension, and was fined an undisclosed amount, for nicking the plate umpire with his cap during an animated argument over the weekend.

Boone was ejected Friday night by plate umpire Nic Lentz for arguing balls and strikes. Boone got into a crouch behind the plate, imitating a catcher gloving a pitch, and then argued nose-to-nose with Lentz.