Astros' Neris has suspension for throwing at Suarez reduced to 3 games

Houston Astros reliever Hector Neris' suspension for throwing at the head of Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez has been reduced from four games to three, the right-hander told reporters, including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Neris will begin serving the ban immediately. He's eligible to return on Saturday when the Astros host the Chicago White Sox. Houston cannot replace him on the active roster during the suspension.

Major League Baseball levied the original discipline against Neris following the events in last Monday's game between the Astros and Mariners. With Seattle ahead in the top of the ninth, he hit Ty France in the back, which sparked a shouting match between the clubs and a brief benches-clearing incident. Officials then ejected Neris for throwing a pitch over Suarez's head later in the inning after warnings were already in place.

Neris, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday on Tuesday, owns a 3.79 ERA, 2.95 FIP, and 0.87 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and six walks across a major league-leading 29 outings this season.