The Atlanta Braves have hit another roadblock in their tumultuous 2024 season. On Tuesday, the team was dealt a major blow when pitcher Reynaldo Lopez left the game after just one inning due to a troubling drop in velocity.
Manager Brian Snitker, alongside a trainer and pitching coach, visited Lopez on the mound after noticing the velocity issue but allowed him to finish the inning. Lopez didn’t return for the second inning, and his fastball was reportedly down by 3.6 mph from his season average, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic. Jesse Chavez stepped in from the bullpen, but it may cause complications for the Braves as they look to manage their bullpen depth moving forward.
While Lopez did manage to escape the inning without giving up a run—allowing only one hit—his sudden departure raises concerns for a Braves team already struggling with injuries. Thankfully, an off-day on Thursday and an upcoming series against the Dodgers should help the bullpen recover.
Lopez’s Injury Overshadows Braves’ Offensive Surge
Despite the injury setback, Atlanta’s offense finally woke up in a big way. Jorge Soler, Matt Olson, and Ramon Laureano all drove in runs in the third inning, followed by another burst of offense in the fourth from Michael Harris II, Olson, and Laureano again. The Braves found themselves up 7-0 after four innings.
The offensive surge, however, is bittersweet as the Braves may have lost a key member of their pitching rotation just as they begin to hit their stride offensively. Pitching has been the team’s strong suit throughout the season, while the bats have often struggled.
https://x.com/DOBrienATL/status/1833647343109132603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1833647343109132603%7Ctwgr%5E55c4b241d09aedd57f5e4ed9a845e90827d3ac37%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fposts%2Flatest-braves-injury-could-finally-put-them-out-of-their-misery-01j7f4pbc4t8
With the NL Wild Card race heating up, the Braves can’t afford any more bad luck. They’re currently trailing the New York Mets by just one game for the final Wild Card spot, and they’ll need both their bats and their pitching staff healthy to make a postseason push.
Braves fans now await an update on Lopez, hoping that this latest injury won’t be a season-ending blow. For a team that has endured so many setbacks, some good fortune is long overdue.
