Mets call for substance check on Joe Musgrove, find nothing

Umpire Alfonso Marquez (72) and crew check for illegal substances on San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (44) during the sixth inning in game three of the Wild Card series for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Mets call for substance check on Padres RHP Joe Musgrove, find nothing

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/9/22

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove was cruising, carrying a no-hitter through five innings on Sunday night when the New York Mets cried foul.

Before Musgrove could throw his first pitch in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the NL Wildcard series, Mets manager Buck Showalter implored umpires to check the Padres' right-hander for illegal substances. Umpires obliged Showalter, thoroughly checking Musgrove's hat, hands, and even his ears, but found nothing.

Buck Showalter just asked umpires to check Joe Musgrove for evidence of sticky stuff. They searched his glove, hat and ears and appeared to come away satisfied. TSA would be impressed with the thoroughness of that search.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 10, 2022

Mets manager Buck Showalter asked the umpires to check Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove for foreign substances after it appeared Musgrove's ears were shiny. pic.twitter.com/U6alihJnfD
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 10, 2022

After the check, Musgrove struck out Tomas Nido before gesturing toward the Mets' dugout.

Joe Musgrove with a little gesture to the Mets dugout! pic.twitter.com/9VBGYq8FwE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 10, 2022

Some might call the Mets' tactics gamesmanship. Though, calling for a check of the opposing pitcher while trailing 4-0 and being no-hit in an elimination game is not the best look.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen shared his thoughts on Twitter about the incident. McCutchen tried to explain why Musgrove's ears looked shiny, claiming the pitcher was using Red Hot on his ears.

Here we go. I guarantee Musgrove has Red Hot on his ears. Pitchers use it as mechanism to stay locked in during games. It burns like crazy and IDK why some guys thinks it helps them but in no way is it "sticky." Buck is smart tho. Could be trying to just throw him off.
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) October 10, 2022

Meanwhile, Padres beat writer for MLB.com, AJ Cassavell, said Musgrove is simply a "sweaty dude."

Joe Musgrove, for those who don't watch him much, is generally a sweaty dude when he pitches.

Umps checked him out. Specifically, they checked the sweat on his ear. They're satisfied with what they saw, evidently. No sticky stuff. The game goes on.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 10, 2022

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