Chase Utley Suspended Games Three and Four by MLB [STATEMENT]

The MLB released a statement on Sunday night, explaining the reasoning behind suspending Chase Utley for sliding into Ruben Tejada and breaking his leg less than 24 hours earlier.

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Ruben Tejada #11 of the New York Mets is hit by a slide by Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning in an attempt to turn a double play in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre explained,"I have concluded that Mr. Utley’s action warrants discipline. While I sincerely believe that Mr. Utley had no intention of injuring Ruben Texada, and was attempting to help his Club in a critical situation, I believe his slide was in violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.09 (a)(13), which is designed to protect fielders from precisely this type of rolling block that occurs away from the base.

"The determination of whether a baserunner has intentionally interfered with a player attempting to turn a double play is left to the judgement of the Umpire on the field, and that judgment call is not subject to review. I should add that determining where to draw the line between and illegal slide and a legitimate hard play is an extremely difficult call for our Umpires."

Update: MLB will hear Utley's appeal at 12 noon on Monday and have their decision before the first pitch of Monday's Game 3 at CitiField.