SAN FRANCISCO — Max Scherzer’s sticky right hand got him ejected, but the punitive process moved quickly.

Major League Baseball suspended the Mets co-ace for 10 games on Thursday, and Scherzer — after originally indicating he planned to appeal — settled his case after realizing he couldn’t win. Scherzer’s suspension began Thursday and will conclude during the Mets’ next homestand.

Scherzer’s suspension for violating MLB’s rule on foreign substances came after he was tossed before the bottom of the fourth inning on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, after umpires Phil Cuzzi and Dan Bellino were unsatisfied by multiple attempts to get Scherzer’s stickiness resolved.

Scherzer claimed his “clumpy” right hand was the result of rosin and sweat and he abided by the rules.

Bellino said Scherzer’s hand, by the time of the final check, was the stickiest of any pitcher he’s examined during the almost two years the new rules have existed.

A primer on the situation:

A: MLB officials, led by vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill, reviewed the report filed by the umpiring crew and decided a 10-game suspension was warranted for Scherzer. Since the league began a crackdown in June 2021 against substances that can improve spin rate, only two other pitchers had been suspended.

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Diamondbacks left-hander Caleb Smith was suspended in August 2021 for an illegal substance on his glove. Smith told Cuzzi — who was umpiring third base in that game — the substance was a combination of rosin and dirt. Smith’s glove was confiscated and sent to MLB offices for testing.

Hector Santiago, in June 2021, was the first pitcher suspended for a substance under the new rules. The Mariners left-hander indicated to Cuzzi — who was the plate umpire for that game — he was using rosin, mixed with his sweat on a humid day.

A: Scherzer’s original belief was an appeal would be heard by an independent arbitrator, but after he learned he would be speaking to MLB officials he decided he couldn’t win.

An appeal could have taken up to 10 days — and Scherzer would have had a week on top of that to officially decide if he wanted one — potentially pushing his suspension into May. By serving the suspension now, Scherzer will be in position to pitch against the Braves on the next homestand.

A: The Mets are not allowed to fill Scherzer’s roster spot for the length of the suspension, leaving them with 25 players instead of 26.

But the pinch truly won’t be felt until Tuesday — when Scherzer would have next pitched.

The Mets will either have to recall a starting pitcher from Syracuse for that game against the Nationals or extend the bullpen. If a pitcher is recalled the Mets will have to option a player to the minors.

A: Players lose pay for PED suspensions, but not on-field infractions that result in punishment. In Scherzer’s case that is roughly $2.4 million he gets to keep over the 10 games.

A: It’s hard to equate the baseball equivalent of a felony (PEDs) with a misdemeanor (sticky substances). Although Scherzer is suspended there can always be reasonable doubt that an infraction occurred, as Cuzzi and Bellino were simply going on what they perceived through touch. There isn’t scientific evidence he used an illegal substance and the “too much rosin” argument is subjective.

Regardless, it’s hard to imagine a 10-game suspension over a sticky substance would convince many — if any — Hall of Fame voters to ignore the three-time Cy Young award winner when he begins appearing on the ballot.