Was Jorge Lopez's ejection justified after near miss on Andrew McCutchen?

In an eventful matchup between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 16, 2025, tensions flared when Nationals pitcher Jorge Lopez was ejected after throwing a pitch near Andrew McCutchen ’s head, leading to both teams clearing their benches. The incident took place in the seventh inning of the Pirates’ 6-1 victory , following a series of aggressive pitches that left both sides on edge.

The drama began when Lopez hit Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds with a pitch in the previous inning. Although Reynolds didn’t appear to take offense, the situation escalated quickly when Lopez faced McCutchen in the seventh. On just his third pitch, Lopez threw a 92 mph sinker that came dangerously close to McCutchen’s head. The Pirates' veteran ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the high, inside pitch.

As umpires gathered to discuss the potential intent of the pitch, McCutchen and Lopez exchanged words, prompting the benches to empty. Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was visibly upset and had to be restrained by his teammate, Oneil Cruz. The atmosphere turned tense as both teams engaged in a heated exchange near the mound.

Though things eventually calmed down, Lopez didn’t escape without consequences. After being ejected from the game, Lopez expressed regret, offering an apology for the incident. "I didn’t make any purpose pitch right there. I’ve been trying to find my way with my delivery, been trying to find my way through the whole season," Lopez said. "It’s really miserable to have that happen. I regret what just happened," he told reporters, according to The Washington Post .

Despite Lopez's apology, the emotional response from the Pirates was palpable. Manager Derek Shelton commented on the impact the incident had on his team: "I think our whole club, as you can see, got fired up. They took a little bit of offense to what happened, and because of it, it ended up sparking a big inning," Shelton stated, per MLB.com. The Pirates capitalized on the momentum, as Cruz followed the McCutchen walk with a grand slam off reliever Eduardo Salazar, pushing the Pirates to a 6-0 lead.

This wasn’t the first time Lopez had found himself in a controversial situation on the mound. Less than a year ago, Lopez made headlines for an infamous glove toss into the stands after being ejected while playing for the New York Mets. At the time, Lopez expressed frustrations that were misinterpreted in his post-game remarks. He later clarified on social media that his comments about the Mets were aimed at his own struggles and not the organization, stating, "During that interview, I spoke candidly about my personal performance and how I felt it made me the worst teammate in the entire league." Lopez was subsequently designated for assignment by the Mets before joining the Nationals this season.

On the field, Lopez’s struggles continued in 2025. Through eight appearances, the right-hander has posted a concerning 10.57 ERA. His rough outing against the Pirates only added to his frustrations, as his pitching contributed to Washington’s loss.

With emotions still running high after the altercation, the Nationals couldn’t recover from the late rally, and Pittsburgh secured a 6-1 win to extend their successful season start.