For Atlanta Braves fans, Monday was all about waiting for updates on Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez was forced to leave his start on Sunday early with tightness in his forearm and the team's fortunes may depend on the results from his MRI on Monday. Requiring such a scan isn't ever great news, but the variance in outcomes here is pretty wide.
However, the team still has to figure out how to manage this pitching staff in the short term. They are already starting Grant Holmes on Monday against the Brewers and have yet to announce a starter for Tuesday.
Some of that mystery has apparently been solved as the Braves are calling up Darius Vines after optioning Jimmy Herget back to the minors.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Darius Vines to Atlanta and optioned RHP Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 29, 2024
Braves News: Atlanta calls up Darius Vines as they desperately look for good news for their rotation
Obviously, it would be better if the Braves had both Vines AND Lopez right now, but Atlanta is at least a little fortunate that they have some pitching depth beyond their main guys. Vines has struggled in his three appearances with Atlanta in 2024 with a 7.82 ERA including getting torched by the Pirates on May 24 with his Triple-A numbers not being great, either. However, he did have a strong season last year and when he is on, he is a guy that can be very efficient against big league hitters.
This move is very clearly a stopgap measure. Atlanta desperately wants to give some extra rest to guys like Chris Sale and Charlie Morton, but injuries continue to foil those plans. Assuming that the Braves can get Max Fried back soon, that would be a huge help.
Right now, Braves fans just have to hope that something goes their way soon. Spencer Schwellenbach's emergence was a good start, but the reality is that they will need more than that to be able to compete the rest of the way. A short absence from Lopez and a good start from Vines would be a great place to start doing just that.