Braves receive positive injury update on Reynaldo Lopez

The Atlanta Braves had cause to worry on Sunday.

Starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez had been pulled from his outing after three innings due to tightness in his right forearm. Justin Toscano from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Lopez would undergo an MRI on Monday. As forearm tightness tends to be a precursor for Tommy John surgery, it was easy to imagine a worst-case scenario.

The Braves received the best news they could have hoped for on Monday. Toscano reported that Lopez's MRI came back clean and that the Braves are not putting the righty on the injured list. He further reported that Braves' manager Brian Snitker indicated that Lopez could make his next scheduled start.

Lopez has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this season. He signed a three-year, $30M contract with an $8M team option for 2027 during the offseason. Although Lopez had primarily been used as a reliever over the previous three years, the Braves decided to stretch him back out as a starter.

The results have been better than anyone could have expected. Lopez has posted a 2.06 ERA and a 1.194 WHiP over his 104.2 innings, striking out 102 batters with 37 walks. He made his first All-Star Game this season as he has been a stabilizing force in a Braves rotation that has seen 12 different pitchers make at least one start.

The positive results also allow the Braves more clarity ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Braves are one of several teams interested in White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet as they look to shore up the back of their rotation. Lopez being healthy means that the Braves will not need to add another starter.