NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays relief pitcher Juan Salas was suspended for 50 games Monday after becoming the first player this year to flunk a drug test under Major League Baseball's testing program.
Salas tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the commissioner's office said. His suspension will start Tuesday.
The D-Rays are +20000 to win the American League pennant.
There were just three suspensions last year under the major league program: New York Mets pitcher Yusaku Iriki, former Arizona pitcher Jason Grimsley and Mets reliever Guillermo Mota, who is serving his 50-game penalty at the start of this season.
Salas, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in 15 appearances this season. He will lose about one-third of his $382,000 salary. | 
