The Atlanta Braves’ struggles in the 2024 season continued on Tuesday night when starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez exited the game after just one inning due to a concerning dip in his velocity.
Lopez, who had been dealing with decreased speed on his pitches, was allowed to finish the first inning but did not return for the second. His average four-seam fastball velocity was 91.9 mph, down by 3.6 mph from his season average, as reported by David O’Brien from The Athletic.
Manager Brian Snitker, alongside the team’s pitching coach and a trainer, checked on Lopez during an early mound visit but decided to keep him in the game to complete the inning. Despite the worrying drop in velocity, Lopez managed to limit the damage, allowing just one hit and no runs.
Reliever Jesse Chavez took over, and while the Braves bullpen got an unexpected workout, an off day on Thursday will provide some relief before the team’s crucial series against the Dodgers. Braves fans are anxiously awaiting an update on Lopez’s condition, hoping it is just a minor setback in what has been a season full of misfortune for their pitching staff.
Offensively, the Braves finally showed some life after Lopez’s departure. Jorge Soler, Matt Olson, and Ramon Laureano sparked the offense with runs in the third inning, while Michael Harris II, Olson, and Laureano extended the lead in the fourth. By the end of the fourth inning, the Braves had a commanding 7-0 lead.
Despite the offensive resurgence, the timing of Lopez’s potential injury could not be worse. As the Braves chase a postseason spot, trailing the Mets by just one game in the NL Wild Card race, they need both their bats and arms to be in top form.
With the final stretch of the season upon them, Atlanta will need some good injury luck if they hope to make a serious run at the playoffs.
