Another starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves may have been lost to injury. Due to forearm tightness, right-hander Reynaldo López left Sunday’s start against the New York Mets (ATL 9, NYM 2) after three innings and 57 pitches. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Braves claim that López was removed as a precaution and is day-to-day, but he will return to Atlanta for an MRI.
Though not usually, forearm discomfort is a common sign of elbow ligament problems and a risk factor for Tommy John surgery. This previous offseason, Atlanta signed López, who was a reliever for the 2021–2023 season, and added him to the rotation. This year’s 104 2/3 innings are much more than his 66 innings from the previous season and his highest since 184 innings thrown in 2019, his final 162 games as a starter.
López’s return to the rotation has gone incredibly well. With a 2.06 ERA in those 104 2/3 innings, the 30-year-old was selected for his first career All-Star Game. Nevertheless, the Braves are already at the limit of their depth in the pitching game, so losing López would be disastrous. Right now, the club’s rotation depth chart looks like this:
Though Fried cannot be activated off the injured list for another week, the Braves anticipate his return pretty fast. Until then, they will need to find a spot starter. On Monday, journeyman Grant Holmes will make his first appearance on the field. For the past few weeks, he has been employed as a long reliever.
Atlanta led the race for a wild-card berth by one game going into Sunday’s action with a 55-48 record. Ever since May 3, they are 35–39. Apart from Strider and Fried, the Braves are also without Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr., the current NL MVP. Albies’ broken wrist will keep him out of action for eight weeks, and Acuña’s torn ligament will end his season.
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