Full Breakdown
Reynaldo Lopez’s IL Placement Shifts Atlanta’s Pitching Plans
By Drooid · · How we work
Lopez’s Move to the Injured List
Atlanta placed right-hander Reynaldo Lopez on the 15-day injured list with right-shoulder inflammation, ending his 2026 regular season. The club recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot.
Recent Performance and Injury History
Through 79.1 innings this season, Lopez posted a 4.54 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 26 appearances, half of which were starts. He missed all of August with a left-knee issue and returned to the rotation only to surrender five runs in three innings against the Cubs. The pitcher’s fastball velocity has hovered in the low-90s mph range, down from the mid-90s peak of his 2024 campaign. Lopez previously missed nearly the entire 2025 season after a shoulder injury and underwent season-ending surgery following a single start that year.
Rotation Adjustments Ahead of the Postseason
With Lopez unavailable, Atlanta’s rotation is expected to rely on former Cy Young winner Chris Sale, likely followed by Tyler Mahle and Grant Holmes. Martin Perez, who holds a 3.08 ERA in 28 appearances, is projected to claim the fourth spot. AJ Smith-Shawver’s role remains uncertain after mixed early-season outings.
Upcoming Schedule and Seeding Implications
The Braves enter the final stretch with series against the Astros, Reds and Marlins. A win-loss record that keeps them as the NL East champion but leaves them three-and-a-half games behind the Dodgers positions Atlanta as the likely No. 3 seed. That seeding would have the Braves host the NL’s final playoff team in the Wild Card Series, which begins on September 29. An IL stint for Lopez therefore removes him from any potential Wild Card appearance.