Bautista: MLB depriving fans of watching me play

Jose Bautista's one-game suspension for an altercation with Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor was upheld by Major League Baseball on Friday after his appeal was denied.

The slugger wasn't pleased with the outcome and believes MLB owes an explanation to the fans about why the decision was made.

"I think they owe it to fans who pay a lot of money to come watch me play," he explained to reporters. "It's so unfounded. It doesn't have any basis. I can't figure it out."

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Bautista, who made a hard takeout slide at second base on Odor on May 15, was suspended for one game by MLB senior vice president Joe Garagiola Jr. for his actions and postgame comments two days later.

Odor was suspended eight games - though the ban was later reduced to seven - and fined $5,000 by MLB for punching Bautista on the jaw after the takeout slide, which led to a bench-clearing brawl and discipline of 14 players and staff for their roles in the altercation.

Bautista was dumbfounded by the league's decision to reduce Odor's suspension, while his was upheld and made his feelings well known.

"His situation is his situation. I can't say I agree with it, but he's got his right to appeal," Bautista said. "He either has friends in high places or that organization does, or he did a really good job of convincing them that ... I don't know even know what. He convinced them of something."

Bautista will serve his suspension Friday as the Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox.

The veteran is hitting .238/.379/.494 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs for the Jays, including .321/.406/.679 with three home runs and six RBIs over his last seven games.