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Report: Chase Utley's appeal to be heard Oct. 19, he can play rest of NLDS

The will-he-or-won't-he game involving Chase Utley and his suspension appeal appears to be over. MLB will reportedly hear Utley's case on Oct. 19, four days after the last-possible game of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. That means he'll be able to play for the rest of the NLDS.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has the scoop:

When Utley's two-game suspension was handed down Sunday night — for what MLB deemed an "illegal" take-out slide on Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada — there were rumors that the league would try to expedite the appeal hearing before Games 3 or 4 of the series in New York. Utley's camp (and the players' union) understandably balked at that.

[Look: Mets fan brings 'Chase Utley Hearts ISIS sign to Game 3]

The appeal didn't happen Monday and it's not happening Tuesday, as previously reported by Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown. So once again, Utley will be free to play for the Dodgers in Game 4, as they try to stay alive in the series, down 2-1. He'd also be able to play the first two games of the NLCS, should the Dodgers get there.

If the Mets want retribution against Utley and the Dodgers, looks like they'll have to settle for the kind they got in Game 3 — a decisive victory. One more like that and it won't matter when Utley's appeal is heard, because his season will be over anyway.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!