Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez's (shoulder) MRI exam came back clean for any structural damage, and he's just dealing with inflammation, according to manager Brian Snitker. The Braves will let Lopez take a few days off before starting a throwing program. His progress in the throwing program will determine when he can return from the 15-day injured list. Atlanta is hoping the 30-year-old can return once his 15-day stint on the IL is up, but even if that comes to pass, there's a good chance that the Braves have him return in a relief role. Lopez was excellent for the Braves in the first half on his way to making his first All-Star team, but he's slowed down in the second half and has gone over 100 innings pitched in 2024 in a return to a full-time starting role for the first time since 2019. Having him healthy for a potential playoff run has to be Atlanta's top priority right now.

The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with right-shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Daysbel Hernandez from the minors in a corresponding move. The team also designated right-hander Jimmy Herget for assignment. Lopez was forced to leave his start early on Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals, and initial tests on his shoulder looked good, but further imaging showed inflammation, and he will now miss at least the next two weeks. It's been an excellent year for the 30-year-old right-hander but the elevated workload as a starter for the first time since 2019 appears to have caught up with him. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues can drop Lopez now, and it's more likely than not that Lopez will return in a relief role if the Braves secure one of the final wild-card spots in the National League.

The Atlanta Braves were forced to pull right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) from his start early on Tuesday night against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Nationals Park due to right-shoulder tightness. Lopez only made it through one inning and gave up one hit in a scoreless frame while walking none and striking out one before giving way to veteran reliever Jesse Chavez. The Braves were quick to give the 30-year-old the hook when they noticed his velocity was down right from the beginning. Lopez has been great in a move to a full-time starting role in his first year in Atlanta in 2024, but he's gone over 100 innings in the big leagues for the first time since 2019, and it appears his elevated workload could finally be catching up to him. At this point, depending on the severity of his shoulder injury, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Braves play it safe and move him to the bullpen as they battle for a playoff spot.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez was fantastic in defeat on Thursday, striking out 11 over six two-run frames in a tough 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Lopez allowed just five hits and didn't walk a batter in this one. The 30-year-old is having the best season of his career, pitching to a 2.04 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 136 strikeouts over 127 IP. His consistency has been spectacular, as he has allowed over three runs in a start just once all season, and in that start he allowed four. Fantasy managers should start Lopez without worry for the few starts he has left, but before that they should thank their lucky stars they got him off waivers.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) pitched well in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Phillies. Lopez, who had been on the injured list for the last three weeks with right forearm inflammation, pitched five innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts on 90 pitches. It was encouraging to see the 30-year-old pick up right where he left before getting hurt. He now owns a 7-4 record with a 2.05 ERA, a 9.19 K/9 rate, and a 3.12 BB/9 rate in 20 starts and 109 2/3 IP. He will draw a favorable matchup in his next start against the Nationals.

The Atlanta Braves reinstated right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Lopez will make his return and start in the series opener on Tuesday versus the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park. The 30-year-old first-time All-Star in 2024 has missed the last three weeks with inflammation in his right forearm, so he's going to be a pretty shaky fantasy play in his first start back against one of the best teams in baseball. In his lone minor-league rehab start, Lopez got up to 71 pitches and four innings of work, so he'll almost certainly be limited from a pitch-count perspective. The Dominican hurler has an ERA just above 2.00 for the year with 102 K's in 104 2/3 innings, but he's in line for some workload restrictions to close out the year.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said on Wednesday that the team will work starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (elbow) back into the rotation early next week when they come off their current road trip, and the hurler isn't expected to make another rehab start. With that said, it sounds like Lopez is lining up to start Tuesday's series opener for a showdown against the first-place Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park. After throwing 71 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, Lopez is on the cusp of rejoining Atlanta's rotation, and his next appearance is slated to come with the major-league roster. The 30-year-old first-time All-Star is recovering from right elbow inflammation, and he is 7-4 this season with a 2.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 102:37 K:BB over 104 2/3 innings for the Braves.

Atlanta Braves All-Star right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) is scheduled to begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday and make a start with Triple-A Gwinnett. Lopez is expected to rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation after his rehab start on Tuesday, barring a setback with his right forearm. The 30-year-old's next start in the big leagues could come as early as this Sunday on the road in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels in what would be a great matchup, although he'd still be a bit more risky for fantasy purposes after leaving his last start on July 28 due to right-forearm inflammation. The Dominican hurler made his first All-Star team in 2024 in his return to a starting role for the first time since 2019, but he could be running out of steam in the second half and is also in danger of having his innings monitored down the stretch.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) resumed playing catch on Tuesday, a day after landing on the 15-day injured list with right-forearm tightness that caused him to leave his last start on July 28. The Braves were initially hoping that Lopez wouldn't need to go on the IL, so there's a chance he could be reinstated as soon as he's eligible to return on Aug. 17. If anything, it will give the Braves a shot to limit the 30-year-old Dominican's innings, as he's already over 100 innings pitched in 2024 for the first time since 2019, when he was starting for the Chicago White Sox. Before his shortened start on July 28, Lopez had allowed seven earned runs in 12 innings over his previous two starts. Lopez was great for fantasy managers in the first half, but the first-time All-Star could be seeing signs of exhaustion as we near the end of the year.

The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) on the 15-day injured list on Monday due to right forearm inflammation. Lopez hasn't pitched since July 28, when he was removed early from his start against the New York Mets. The Braves expressed optimism that the right-hander would not need to go on the IL, but it appears the 30-year-old is still expressing some soreness. So, he will miss at least 15 days while he nurses his forearm injury. Fantasy managers who own Lopez should stash him in one of their IL slots. He owns a 2.06 ERA and 102 strikeouts across 104 2/3 innings pitched this season.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) is still considered day-to-day, according to manager Brian Snitker. Righty swingman Grant Holmes will start on Saturday as the Braves face the division-rival Miami Marlins at Truist Park this weekend, which was originally going to be Lopez's next turn through the rotation. Lopez still has a chance to make an appearance this weekend, with Atlanta not having a scheduled starter listed for Sunday as well, but left-hander Max Fried (forearm) is also a candidate to come off the 15-day injured list for that start against the last-place Marlins. The 30-year-old first-time All-Star is 7-4 this season with a 2.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 102:37 K:BB over 104 2/3 innings, and it doesn't sound like he's at risk of heading to the IL at the moment. More clarity should become available this weekend regarding this rotation.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Monday's game against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers that starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez's (forearm) MRI exam showed no structural damage. Snitker didn't completely rule out the possibility of a stint on the injured list as a precautionary measure, but the important takeaway is that Lopez has dodged a significant injury to his throwing arm and isn't expected to miss an extended period of time. The hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander left Sunday's start against the division-rival New York Mets and is day-to-day with right-forearm tightness. Lopez is 7-4 this season with a 2.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 102:37 K:BB over 104 2/3 innings and tentatively lines up to take the hill during Friday's game against the last-place Miami Marlins at home, but fantasy managers should consider making other arrangements if the Braves ultimately decide to have his next turn in the rotation skipped.

The Atlanta Braves announced that starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez left his start early as a precaution with right forearm tightness and is considered day-to-day. The right-hander left the game against the New York Mets on Sunday after three innings pitched with three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Lopez is 7-4 this season with a 2.12 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. The fact that the Braves are calling the move precautionary is a good sign but fantasy managers will still need to keep an eye on the follow-up news after Lopez has a chance to get examined. The Braves and fantasy managers can not afford to lose Lopez for an extended period.

Atlanta Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez threw six shutout innings in Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander scattered two hits and three walks and struck out six. Lopez lowered his season ERA to a sparkling 1.71. The 30-year-old is 7-2 in his resurgent season with the Braves becoming a fantasy ace this season at a bargain price on draft day.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez will not get an extra day before his next start and will go on regular rest in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. It will be just the second time this year that Lopez will be on regular rest. In the previous occasion, he lasted 4 2/3 innings against the Pirates on May 25, which was his shortest outing of the season before Tuesday, when Lopez allowed two runs on four hits and four walks in a season-low 4 1/3 frames. Lopez hasn't thrown more than 66 innings either of the past two years as a reliever for the White Sox. Even with Tuesday's poor outing, Lopez has a 2.30 ERA in the six starts he's made with one extra day of rest. He has a 1.32 ERA in eight starts he's made with more than an extra day of rest. He's been great for fantasy managers this year, but after his outing on Tuesday, fantasy managers may be hesitant to roll him out there in a tougher matchup on regular rest this Sunday.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez continued his impressive season by earning his fourth victory of the season on Thursday versus a tough Baltimore Orioles lineup. The right-hander earned his eighth quality start of the season by tossing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. He also issued one walk in the process of striking out eight batters. Lopez has been one of the biggest success stories this season and his conversion back to a starting pitcher has been a big success thus far in 2024. As good as Lopez has been, managers should be aware that the 69 1/3 innings he has thrown this more is already more than he has tossed in any season since 2019, a season in which he threw 184 innings. As big of a success story that he's been this season, managers should consider if his arm will be able to hold up for a full season as he makes for a good sell-high candidate. Next up for Lopez will be a date against a favorable Detroit Tigers offense on Tuesday.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (3-2) dazzled Friday night allowing one run on four hits and two walks while whiffing eight batters and picking up his third win in a 4-2 victory against the Oakland Athletics. We are sitting here on May 31st and Reynaldo Lopez of all pitchers, a reliever with only one start under his belt in the last two seasons and a career 4.12 ERA, is leading the National League with a 1.73 ERA. That is exactly why baseball is the beautiful game that it is. The unlikeliest outcome can occur at any given moment for any given team. Although it's unlikely to expect a pitcher who hasn't pitched over 66 innings in over four seasons to continue this domination over a full season, it is making for one heck of a story, and fantasy managers have reaped the rewards thus far. Look for him to continue his breakout campaign against the division rival Washington Nationals next Thursday.

The Atlanta Braves said after Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals that left-hander Ray Kerr will start the series finale on Thursday, not the originally announced right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez would have been on "regular" four days of rest, which he's only done once this season -- in his last start on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he had his shortest outing (4 2/3 innings) and fewest strikeouts (three) of the year. He has had five to six days of rest in all his previous starts in 2024. It's possible that the 30-year-old will be pushed back just one day to Friday in a much better matchup against the Oakland Athletics. Kerr, 29, made his first start of the year on May 24 against the Pirates and allowed five earned runs in four innings for his first loss of the season. He won't be a recommended fantasy streamer against the Nats.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (back) is listed as the probable starter for Sunday's matchup against the visiting San Diego Padres. After exiting Monday's appearance against the Chicago Cubs following 71 pitches due to back tightness, Lopez is good to go for his next scheduled start and won't need to miss any time. The hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander has been a pleasant surprise out of Atlanta's rotation over seven starts in 2024, compiling a 1.34 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings thus far during his first season with the Braves. With that said, Lopez owns a 3.72 xERA on Baseball Savant and could be in for some regression at some point. The Padres entered Wednesday's action ranking fifth in the major leagues in both average (.255) and runs scored (211) covering 45 games.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (back) was pulled from his start early on Monday against the visiting Chicago Cubs due to back tightness. Before leaving, Lopez threw five scoreless innings with two hits allowed while walking two and striking out four to lower his season ERA to a sparkling 1.34. The 30-year-old did not get a decision in his latest strong performance before leaving early due to an injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider Lopez to be day-to-day, and the Braves currently don't think that his injury is serious enough to keep him from making his next scheduled start. Lopez has been a revelation for the Braves and for fantasy managers in deeper leagues that took a chance on him after he hadn't started a game since 2022 with the Chicago White Sox.