Reynaldo Lopez is the latest key Braves player to be dealing with an injury. How serious is it?
The Atlanta Braves faced another injury scare on Sunday when pitcher Reynaldo Lopez left his start against the New York Mets due to right forearm tightness. The Braves have indicated that Lopez’s early exit after three innings was a precaution, but this injury will need careful monitoring as the team grapples with several key injuries.
Lopez has been a standout for the Braves this season, marking a significant turnaround from his previous career performance and earning his first All-Star nod. The 30-year-old exited Sunday’s game with a 2.06 ERA after pitching three scoreless innings against New York. He holds a 7-4 record and has surpassed 100 innings pitched for the first time since his 2019 season with the Chicago White Sox.
Previously, Lopez had stints with the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians in 2023 before signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.
If Lopez were to miss time, it would be a severe blow for a Braves team already struggling with injuries. Atlanta is currently without ace Spencer Strider due to an elbow issue, and All-Star Max Fried recently went on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm injury. The team has also been hit hard offensively, with Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the season, Ozzie Albies sidelined for up to two months, and Michael Harris II expected back no earlier than mid-August. Even recent acquisition Whit Merrifield has been injured.
Given these injuries, the Braves are actively exploring the trade market for reinforcements. According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, the injury to Lopez heightens the need to acquire a starting pitcher. Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reports that the Braves are in discussions with the Chicago White Sox, although it’s unclear which players are being considered. Heyman mentions potential targets such as Luis Robert Jr., Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, and Tommy Pham, with other possibilities including Taylor Ward, Brent Rooker, Lane Thomas, and Luis Rengifo.
With Lopez’s injury, the Braves might pursue players like Crochet or Fedde to bolster their roster. Currently, Atlanta is 55-48 and holds the top NL Wild Card spot. However, they have been struggling recently, with the gap narrowing between them and the San Diego Padres, Mets, and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card race. The Braves, Padres, and Mets currently occupy the three Wild Card spots, but the Diamondbacks are just half a game behind and one game back of Atlanta.
