Braves fans have been hoping for a sliver of good news during what has been an awfully disappointing season. The second half hasn't been what many hoped for as the team is 8-14 since the All-Star break.
Injuries have run rampant through Atlanta in 2024 and it feels like bad news has become the norm. That was exacerbated even more as the Braves announced they placed reliever AJ Minter on the 15-day IL with a hip injury.
Braves News: Reynaldo Lopez to begin rehab assignment on Tuesday
However, fans did receive a bit of good news as the team announced Reynaldo Lopez will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday night as he nears the end of his stint on the injured list.
Reynaldo López will make a rehab start for Gwinnett Tuesday, the Stripers announced. He can come off the injured list Saturday. He’d be lined up to start Sunday on regular rest if the Braves wanted to go that route.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 12, 2024
Lopez is eligible to return from the IL on Saturday and would have him in line to start for the Braves on Sunday in Anaheim. Reynaldo being sidelined with soreness in his forearm was a big concern for Atlanta as he's been one of their most dependable starters all year.
He has a 2.06 ERA through 104.2 innings with 37 walks and 102 strikeouts. The amount of innings pitched this season are the most by Lopez since 2019 when he tossed 184 innings for the White Sox.
So, it's understandable that the team would monitor his innings closely if the team gets a chance at a postseason run. They will need him as healthy as possible. The Braves will evaluate how Lopez feels after his start on Tuesday and decide what to do next.
It's a bit hard to explain his ability to be so successful this season as most of his metrics are below average except for his fastball velocity which averages 95.4 mph and sits in the 73rd percentile. His chase (29.2), whiff (26.2), and strikeout percentage (23.9) all sit around 60% which is league average.
Hopefully, he can maintain his All-Star-level performance from the first half and provide Atlanta with meaningful innings down the stretch. Braves fans need a positive storyline to follow through the confusing experience of the 2024 season.