The Atlanta Braves are making another adjustment to a pitching staff that has been hit hard by injuries and inconsistent performances, with Reynaldo Lopez returning to the starting rotation for Friday’s matchup against the San Francisco Giants. It will be his sixth start of the season after spending nearly two months working out of the bullpen, a role he handled effectively while the club searched for answers elsewhere.
Lopez, 32, originally opened the season as a starter and made five appearances in April before the Braves shifted him into relief. During that first stretch in the rotation, he posted a respectable 3.74 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP over 21.2 innings. His final start before the move came on April 21 against the Washington Nationals, ending what had been a solid, if unspectacular, run in the rotation.
Lopez Earns Another Chance in the Braves Rotation
Rather than struggle after the transition, Lopez adapted well to bullpen work. Between late April and the middle of June, he appeared in 13 games, logging 22 innings with a 3.27 ERA. His ability to provide dependable innings gave Atlanta valuable flexibility at a time when the pitching staff continued to lose key contributors. Overall, this season, Lopez owns a 3-1 record with a 3.50 ERA and 39 strikeouts, numbers that have earned him another opportunity to start.
June Has Been a Difficult Month for Atlanta’s Starters
The timing of the move is hardly surprising. Atlanta’s rotation has struggled throughout June after performing at a much higher level during the first two months of the season. The starters combined for a strong 3.01 ERA in April and followed that with a 3.52 mark in May. Through the first 19 games of June, however, that figure ballooned to 5.43, accompanied by a disappointing 6-9 record.
Bryce Elder’s recent difficulties have been one factor in that decline. Across 22.2 innings in June, he allowed 19 earned runs, putting additional pressure on a rotation already stretched thin by injuries. Atlanta is also dealing with significant absences from Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Joey Wentz, leaving the club with limited options as it tries to stay competitive.
Trade Deadline Help Still Makes Sense
Lopez’s return provides an experienced arm capable of delivering quality innings, but expectations will remain measured in his first outing back. He is expected to throw roughly 60 pitches against San Francisco, suggesting Atlanta will monitor his workload carefully rather than ask him to work deep into the game immediately.
While Lopez helps address an immediate need, the broader picture remains unchanged. The Braves still face questions about their rotation depth behind veteran ace Chris Sale, and a single internal move is unlikely to solve every issue. As the trade market develops, adding another proven starting pitcher could remain an important objective if Atlanta hopes to strengthen its rotation for the remainder of the season. Lopez provides the club with stability in the short term, but additional reinforcements may still be needed.
