Braves right-hander Reynaldo López was faraway from in the present day’s begin after simply three innings and the membership introduced that the transfer was resulting from proper forearm tightness. He’s headed to Atlanta for an MRI, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Structure on X. Although Atlanta characterised it as precautionary and described the righty as day-to-day, it might be a notable growth given the encircling circumstances of the membership.
López principally labored as a reliever from 2021 to 2023, however Atlanta moved him again to a beginning function this 12 months, an experiment that has gone extremely effectively to date. The righty got here into in the present day with an earned run common of two.12 in 101 2/3 innings. There’s actually a little bit of luck in there, as stranding 85.6% of baserunners isn’t sustainable in the long run, however his 8.7% stroll price is near common and his 24.2% strikeout price is kind of robust. His 3.17 FIP and 4.00 SIERA level to stable outcomes even with a bit much less luck by way of stranding runners.
Dropping that form of efficiency for even a brief period of time could be lower than best for Atlanta. The membership has been sliding within the standings these days and is effectively again of the Phillies within the Nationwide League East. Within the Wild Card image, there are 9 groups battling for 3 spots, inside eight video games of one another. Atlanta is atop that heap, however solely barely.
Their rotation challenges started early on and have mounted because the season has progressed. Spencer Strider required UCL surgical procedure in April and is out for the 12 months. Max Fried, Huascar Ynoa and Hurston Waldrep are additionally on the IL resulting from arm points.
Fried and Waldrep may every be coming off the IL within the coming weeks, however it could be lower than best for López to overlook any time. If he had been out of the image, the rotation core could be all the way down to Chris Sale and Charlie Morton, a minimum of till one of many injured guys is ready to return. Sale is having an awesome 12 months however is hardly a certain factor, as he’s 35 years outdated and missed a lot of the earlier 4 seasons resulting from damage. Morton has a satisfactory 4.16 ERA however is 40 years outdated and his strikeout price has declined for a fourth straight season. Spencer Schwellenbach has been good however has simply ten MLB begins to his title to date. Reliever Grant Holmes is listed as tomorrow’s starter.
All instructed, the Atlanta rotation has a whole lot of query marks in it proper now, which may maybe affect Atlanta’s conduct within the coming days. The commerce deadline is 5pm Central on Tuesday, giving the membership a little bit of time to determine how aggressively to pursue beginning pitching upgrades. The market may options affect names like Garrett Crochet, Jack Flaherty and Tarik Skubal, in addition to guys like Erick Fedde, Yusei Kikuchi, Cal Quantrill and lots of extra.
The membership additionally is likely to be searching for assist at second base and the outfield because of the accidents to Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II, however the aggressive steadiness tax would possibly affect their method. RosterResource pegs their CBT quantity at $273MM, just under the third threshold of $277MM. Going over that line wouldn’t solely result in a better price of taxation however would additionally see their prime choose within the 2025 draft pushed again ten spots.
On prime of this season, there’s the fear of a long-term absence. At this level, there’s been nothing to recommend the worst-case state of affairs is on the desk for López, however an damage to a pitcher’s throwing elbow/forearm will at all times lead to some extent of fear.
At this level within the 12 months, a big surgical procedure may put the 2025 season in jeopardy for López. Atlanta is about to lose each Fried and Morton to free company, with the latter additionally a candidate to retire. López is within the first season of a three-year deal and will surely be a part of the 2025 rotation combine so long as he’s wholesome. If not, it could principally include a 36-year-old Sale, adopted by pretty unproven guys like Schwellenbach, Waldrep and others.
