Alex Cora, Tim Kurkjian and Hal McRae debate whether Chase Utley's slide into second base in Game 2 was dirty and if the two-game suspension levied by MLB was justified. (6:46)

Major League Baseball offered Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chase Utley a one-game suspension to be served in Monday night's Game 3 after his illegal slide in Game 2, but Utley would not accept the punishment, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney.

MLB subsequently issued the two-game suspension Utley asked the players' association to appeal, sources said.

The appeal hearing was not held Monday, as sides were still trying to agree on a schedule. Utley will continue to be eligible to play until the matter is settled.

Despite being available to play and having strong numbers against New York Mets starter Matt Harvey, Utley did not play in the Dodgers' 13-7 Game 3 loss. Manager Don Mattingly made a "baseball decision" and picked Howie Kendrick to play second base over Utley and bat leadoff. Kendrick went 2-for-5 with a three-run, ninth-inning homer.

MLB originally suspended Utley for Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series for what the league deemed an illegal slide Saturday into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, who broke his leg in the collision and will miss the rest of the postseason.

The Dodgers insisted Utley's slide was no more aggressive or illegal than several others that did not draw suspensions in recent seasons.

Mattingly mentioned Matt Holliday's hard slide that injured San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro in the NL Championship Series three years ago, along with several other examples.

"I feel like MLB got maybe a little bullied into suspending him," Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. "It never happened before. I've seen slides a lot worse."

Commissioner Rob Manfred said he hopes Utley's hearing will come before the end of this series, which will conclude Tuesday in New York or Thursday in Los Angeles. The Mets lead the series 2-1 after their victory Monday.

Manfred said no date has been set, but the league office has had preliminary discussions with the players' union.

"Usually, we agree on a date, and we're hopeful we'll agree on a date quickly. I'm not going to speculate on when," Manfred said. "We'd like to have it heard as soon as possible. The union, reasonably, wants some time to get things pulled together, but given the issues involved, I'd like to think it could be done before the end of the series."

Under the collective bargaining agreement, the hearing is to start within 14 days of MLB's receiving the appeal. Penalties are held in abeyance pending a decision.

Ruben Tejada is hit by a sliding Chase Utley while attempting to turn a double play in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NLDS. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Mattingly said he spoke with Utley about the controversy and whether he felt his family had enough security for their trip to New York.

"Chase has played a long time, played in big games. I don't think the moment has got anything to do with it. That part you don't worry about," Mattingly said. "You worry about all that other stuff that gets in there and about making sure he's comfortable with MLB security, MLB taking care of all the issues. When those kind of things get talked about, you know things are over the line."

Utley was the focal point of boos and profane chants despite not being on the field Monday night. He was booed fiercely when he was introduced, and by the fifth inning, his name had become a party tune, with the crowd chirping gleefully, "We want Utley!" and "Where is Utley?" Some fans even brought photos of Utley superimposed over a bull's-eye.

Utley refused questions after the game.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he addressed Utley's possibly being in the lineup with Harvey and told him, "Play baseball." Collins said the Mets can't waste time thinking about retaliation.

The umpires did not start the teams with warnings about hitting batters in retaliation.

ESPN staff writer Mark Saxon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.