Mets’ Familia accepts ban

All-Star closer will miss the first 15 games; Pirates’ Polanco ailing

Mets All-Star reliever Jeurys Familia accepted a 15-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, discipline stemming from an altercation last October.

The suspension announced Wednesday was the fourth and least severe under the policy, which was agreed to in August 2015. New York Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman was penalized 29 games, Colorado shortstop Jose Reyes 59 days and Atlanta outfielder Hector Olivera 82 games.

Familia was arrested Oct. 31 on a simple assault charge, but prosecutors later dropped the case. Under the domestic violence policy, a player can be disciplined absent a criminal conviction.

Familia is eligible to participate in all spring training activities and exhibition games leading up to the Mets’ opener Monday against Atlanta, and then must sit out the team’s first 15 games. He can participate in up to six minor league games while serving the penalty.

Barring any postponements, Familia would be eligible to return April 20 at home against Philadelphia and would lose $730,328 of his $7,425,000 salary.

Mets reliever Addison Reed is a likely candidate to fill in for Familia as closer. Reed has 106 saves in a sixyear career, only two since joining New York during the 2015 season.

Steven Matz’s last-ditch n effort to get his aching left elbow ready for Opening Day ended with a trip to the doctor’s office for an MRI exam, leaving the Mets to choose between Seth Lugo and Zack Wheeler for the open spot in the starting rotation.

Pirates: Outfielder Gregory Polanco will not travel with the team when it heads north on Thursday for two exhibition games in Montreal. Polanco, projected to be the Pirates’ starting left fielder, has played in just one spring training game since returning from his run with the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic. Polanco started experiencing left shoulder discomfort after his spring appearance on March 23 and has not played since. He experienced a similar issue on his throwing shoulder in 2016, and the team is being especially cautious with his return as a result.

Indians: Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall is joining Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.

Chisenhall hurt his right shoulder when he crashed into an outfield wall last week and will not be ready when the AL champions open the season on Monday in Texas.

Kipnis has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation and may not join the Indians until later in April.

With Chisenhall out, Indians manager Terry Francona said Abraham Almonte will be on the opening-day roster.

Angels: Los Angeles right-hander Matt Shoemaker continued his comeback after being hit in the head by a line drive Sept. 4 at Seattle, leading to emergency surgery. He gave up nine hits in four innings, but limited Milwaukee to three runs in an 8-6 win.