New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Major League Baseball has suspended Florida Marlins pitcher Brad Penny for five games, Montreal outfielder Vladimir Guerrero three games and Expos infielder Jose Macias two games for their part in a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams on Monday.

Unless appealed, Guerrero and Penny will begin serving their suspensions on Monday, March 31, meaning they both will miss the start of the regular season. Macias will start serving his suspension, Friday, April 4. The Expos start their season March 31 in Atlanta, while the Marlins will play their season- opener the same day by hosting the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Marlins and Expos are first scheduled to meet each other in the regular season May 20-22.

Guerrero was ejected in the first inning for starting the brawl. Penny's second pitch to Guerrero hit the outfielder high in the chest. Guerrero, who first had a few words for Penny, was trying to be restrained by Florida catcher Matt Treanor. Penny got close to Guerrero and the Expos slugger, with a bat in his left hand, swung his right fist around Treanor and at the Marlins pitcher. The punch missed and Penny threw a punch that also misfired, and the benches emptied.

The suspended players also received undisclosed fines.

Penny, a righthander, is expected to enter the season as the No. 2 man in Florida's starting rotation behind A.J. Burnett. Penny went 8-7 with a 4.66 ERA over 24 games last season.

Guerrero is coming off another spectacular season for Montreal, hitting .336 with 39 homers and 111 RBI. He fell one home run shy of becoming the fourth man in major league history to have 40 round-trippers and 40 steals in the same season. He has over 100 RBI in five straight campaigns.

Macias, who played for Detroit and Montreal last season, batted .249 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 2002.