Brewers’ Smith faces 8-game ban

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Will Smith was suspended for eight games on Friday for having a foreign substance on his right arm during a game at Atlanta.

Major League Baseball said Smith plans to appeal, so the penalt y is on hold. Smith was available for Friday night’s game at the Braves.

Smith, a left-hander, was ejected for having rosin and sunscreen on his right forearm in the seventh inning of Thursday night’s 10-1 loss to the Braves. He said after the game he put the substance on his forearm before warming up in the bullpen on a brisk night. He expressed regret for not wiping it off before entering the game.

Smith said he uses the substances to help him feel the ball better.

“That’s it. It’s the grip,” he said. “It’s not going to spin more. You’re not going to throw harder. You’ve got what you got.”

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he could see the substances on Smith’s arm “glistening through the lights.” Gonzalez informed the umpires.

Crew chief Jim Joyce walked to the mound, touched Smith’s arm and tossed the reliever from the game. Television cameras showed a shiny substance that was visible on Smith’s forearm.

Smith yelled at Gonzalez in the Braves’ dugout on his way off the field.

Yankees: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is set to make his next rehabilitation start Wednesday against Boston’s Triple-A team.

Manager Joe Girardi said the Japanese right-hander, who has been on the disabled list since April 27 because of tendinitis in his right wrist and a strained forearm, will be limited to 65 pitches in his game for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Pawtucket, R.I..

Girardi said it was possible Tanaka could rejoin the Yankees after that minor league start.

Athletics: Immediate neck surgery for outfielder Coco Crisp was ruled out.

The A’s said they expect to make a decision this weekend on Crisp’s playing status. The 35-year-old had a similar injury last season, and hasn’t played since leaving a game Tuesday in Houston with a stiff neck.

Crisp is batting .044 in 13 games this season.

■ Relief pitcher Edward Mujica was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Blue Jays: Infielder Devon Travis was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore left shoulder.

Nationals: RHP Casey Janssen was activated and LHP Sammy Solis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.