Bauer ready to fight MLB over suspension

Trevor Bauer is fighting to protect his pitching career, reputation and earning power in the face of his two-season suspension without pay by Major League Baseball for violating MLB’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

Now, it’s an arbitrator’s turn to decide whether he ever plays for the Dodgers — or any other MLB team — again. His punishment was meted out Friday for sexual abuse allegations he denies. If the arbitrator sides with MLB, the 31-year-old pitcher’s full suspension of 324 games without pay would be upheld and Bauer would lose just over $60 million from a $102 million, threeyear contract he signed last year. By that time, his contract with the team will have expired.

If Bauer wins, he faces the prospect of rebuilding his reputation, as well as mending fences with MLB and his team.

Bauer repeatedly has said that everything that happened between the two was consensual.

Golf: Steve Stricker shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday for a three-way share of the lead at the Insperity Invitational in his return to the PGA Tour Champions. He was tied with Steve Alker (65) and hard-charging Brandt Jobe (64) . ... Jon Rahm birdied the last two par 5s and got some help from a couple of poor chips by Cameron Champ to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Mexico Open.

NBA: A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant in his rookie season will be sold at auction. David Kohler of SCP Auctions says the jersey from the 199697 season could fetch between $3 million and $5 million in an online auction that begins May 18.

Tennis: Simona Halep defeated Paula Badosa in straight sets to reach the last 16 of the Madrid Open on Saturday for the seventh time in 11 appearances. The two-time Madrid Open champion had 21 winners as she defeated No. 2-ranked Badosa 6-3, 6-1 on the Caja Mágica center court.