Remember when Martín Pérez delivered what was arguably his best start of the season nearly a month ago? Pérez started on 90 minutes notice because before that game was set to begin, the scheduled starter’s knee was acting up on him and it was bad enough to result in an IL stint for the poor guy.
That poor guy was Reynaldo López, who has been on the IL since July 30 due to a knee injury. Fortunately, there was no structural damage revealed via an MRI shortly after he went down with the injury and now
López appears to be close to recovering and eventually returning to the mound for the Braves. Before he does that, he’ll be joining the Gwinnett Stripers in Triple-A for a rehab stint starting on this coming Sunday.
Here’s more from the Stripers via a press release:
The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced that right-hander Reynaldo Lopez will join the Stripers to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday, August 23. That day is the finale of a six-game series vs. the Durham Bulls at Gwinnett Field.
Lopez has been on Atlanta’s 15-day Injured List since July 30 with left knee inflammation. In 24 games (11 starts) with the Braves this season, the 32-year-old is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and .245 BAA.
Across an 11-year Major League career with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023), and Atlanta Braves (2024-26), Lopez is 51-57 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .243 BAA, and six saves in 292 games (134 starts). He was selected to the National League All-Star Team with the Braves in 2024, a season in which he went 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA in 26 games (25 starts).
This rehab assignment marks Lopez’s second career stint with Gwinnett. He made one rehab start with the Stripers on August 13, 2024 vs. Norfolk (ND, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HB, 1 BB, 4 SO) while working his way back from right forearm inflammation.
This has definitely been an up-and-down season for Reynaldo López so far, between the IL stints, the stints in the bullpen and the run he had in the rotation. Somehow, he’s stayed productive when he’s had an opportunity to contribute — he’s got an ERA of 3.64 as mentioned in the press release (with an ERA- of 87) and a FIP of 4.32 (105 FIP-). That’s not exactly spectacular and it’s nowhere near the relatively dizzying heights that he reached during his career year in 2024 but it’s perfectly fine and the Braves will be better upon his return.
Here’s hoping that the rehab stint goes well and that Lopez will be able to re-enter Atlanta’s pitching staff and continue to contribute down the home stretch of this regular season.
