As some point, Atlanta Braves fans hopefully have embraced the nightmare that is the 2024 season. In exchange for such a stellar run from 2018-2023 including winning it all in 2021, apparently some dark compact was struck for which the bill came due this season in the form of injuries. So very many injuries.
For those that thought it couldn't get any worse after losing Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and AJ Minter among the all the other ailments that have befell the Braves this season, you were wrong. Reynaldo Lopez got the start for the Braves against the Nationals in a series that Atlanta absolute has to win to keep pace in the NL wild card race.
Just one inning later, Lopez was pulled from the game early with Jesse Chavez coming in from the bullpen and the Braves' rotation looking primed to suffer another blow.
Reynaldo Lopez has been removed from the game after just one inning. His velocity was down.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) September 10, 2024
No reason given as of yet, but obviously this is the kind of story we've discussed too many times for the 2024 #Braves.
Braves pull Reynaldo Lopez early from start against Nationals with shoulder injury
There were signs of trouble from the beginning as Lopez's fastball velocity was down 2-4 mph to start the game, although he still put up a scoreless frame in the first. Given that along with the fact that Lopez went on the IL with forearm inflammation and one can probably guess what was bothering him on Tuesday evening.
*Update (8:07 PM)* It was actually shoulder tightness that caused Lopez to be pulled from the game which is both better and potentially worse news.
RHP Reynaldo López was removed from tonight’s game due to right shoulder tightness.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 11, 2024
It is truly a shame as when Lopez has been on the mound, he has pitched extremely well. It is possible what we are seeing is the natural result of a guy getting converted back to being a starter and drastically exceeding his previous workload instead of a long-term injury problem. However, getting pulled from a game in the middle of September after Lopez's previous arm troubles feels like it could be the end of his 2024 regular season at minimum.
The Braves do have interesting arms on the 40-man roster that could fill in during the regular season with AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep probably being the sexiest, if imperfect choices. On the one hand, the Braves don't have to cover too many more starts the rest of the way at this point of the season. However, it is unlikely that any potential replacements will be as good as Lopez and that could make the difference in what is an extremely tight playoff race.