Pitcher Reynaldo Lopez departed his start against the New York Mets on Sunday due to discomfort in his right forearm, giving the Atlanta Braves yet another injury scare. The Braves claim that Lopez’s exit after three innings was necessary, but given the team’s ongoing struggles with major injuries, this will need to be closely watched.
After a rather unremarkable beginning to his career, Lopez has been a revelation for Atlanta this season, winning his first All-Star selection. The 30-year-old pitched three scoreless innings against New York on Sunday, ending the game with a 2.06 ERA. With the Chicago White Sox, he has pitched over 100 innings and has a 7-4 record. This is the first time he has done it since 2019.
The right-hander played six full seasons on the South Side of Chicago before spending time in 2023 with the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians. In the offseason, Lopez inked a $30 million, three-year contract with the Braves.
Reynaldo Lopez’s absence would be devastating for the Braves, who have struggled mightily with injuries this season. Atlanta doesn’t even have an ace yet. All-Star Max Fried recently placed on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm ailment, while Spencer Strider was sidelined due to an elbow issue.
The pitching staff has not been the only victim of injuries; Ozzie Albies might miss up to two months of play and Ronald Acuna Jr. is out for the season. Additionally absent and unlikely to return until at least mid-August is Michael Harris II. Whit Merrifield, who Atlanta recently signed following the Albies injury, also sustained an injury.
The Braves are looking to trade for upgrades because so many of their important players are sidelined. Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports points out that the injury to Lopez will make it more urgent to get a starting pitcher, while Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reports that Atlanta is in talks with the Chicago White Sox. It’s unclear which player (or players) the Braves are negotiating with the White Sox about, although Heyman cites Luis Robert Jr., Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham as fits. Heyman also suggested Taylor Ward, Brent Rooker, Lane Thomas and Luis Rengifo as candidates.
Given Reynaldo Lopez’s injury, it’s possible that Fedde or Crochet may end up in Atlanta. With a record of 55-48, the Braves presently occupy the first NL Wild Card slot. But Atlanta has been struggling lately, and as a result, their lead over the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card race has shrunk. The Diamondbacks are currently one game behind Atlanta and just half a game behind the Braves, Padres, and Mets for the three Wild Card positions.
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