Reynaldo Lopez

Fantasy News

• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Six strong innings in season debut

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2026

  Lopez took a no-decision Saturday against the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out three. Lopez might not have been overly dominant in his season debut, but he kept the Royals quiet until Salvador Perez opened the scoring with a seventh-inning solo shot. It was particularly encouraging to see the right-hander get his fastball velocity as high as 97 mph, considering he was rarely breaking 90 mph this spring after missing most of 2025 due to shoulder surgery. Lopez tossed 77 pitches Saturday, and he'll be trying to further build himself up during his next scheduled outing in Arizona.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Velocity up after mechanical tweak

  Rotowire Mar 24, 2026

  Lopez's velocity returned in a bullpen session Tuesday following a mechanical adjustment, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Lopez pointed to mechanical problems as the reason he averaged just 89.2 mph with his four-seamer in his final Grapefruit League start against the Twins. It appears he's fixed the issue and regained some pep on the fastball, though it's unclear just how much harder Lopez was throwing in Tuesday's bullpen session. The righty averaged 95.5 mph with his four-seamer during his last full season in 2024, and it would be a big ask for him to get back to that level after shoulder surgery. Lopez is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday against the Royals, and fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his radar-gun readings in that outing.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Blames velocity dip on mechanics

  Rotowire Mar 23, 2026

  Lopez said Monday that he is fine physically and mechanical issues are to blame for his diminished velocity during Sunday's Grapefruit League outing versus the Twins, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Lopez averaged just 89.2 mph with his four-seamer in the start, yielding four runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 frames. The right-hander's velocity has been down all spring, though not to the level it was Sunday. Lopez could see an uptick in velocity after the regular-season adrenaline kicks in, but it's also possible this is the new normal for him as he comes back from shoulder surgery. The 32-year-old is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday against the Royals and should probably be left on fantasy benches for the time being.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Continues to build up

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2026

  Lopez gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, He struck out six. While the right-hander's final line wasn't pretty, Lopez got stretched out to 73 pitches (48 strikes) and remains on track for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. He isn't yet showing the velocity he carried prior to last year's shoulder injury, however -- Lopez topped out at 94.3 mph with his four-seamer Tuesday and had trouble reaching 90 mph consistently in his final inning of work, after he averaged 95.5 mph with the pitch in 2024. With Atlanta already down Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and other starting options, the team needs Lopez to be both healthy and effective in 2026, so his 2.84 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 12.2 spring innings is at least encouraging.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Sharp in second spring outing

  Rotowire Mar 3, 2026

  Lopez gave up one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings during Atlanta's split-squad game against the Rays on Sunday. He struck out three. The 32-year-old right-hander fired 27 of 42 pitches for strikes in an impressive outing, although it came against a Tampa Bay lineup that featured only a couple regulars headlined by Yandy Diaz. Lopez made only one start in 2025 before being lost to shoulder surgery, but he's looking healthy so far in camp -- he's tossed five scoreless innings in two Grapefruit League appearances with a 5:2 K:BB. He had trouble maintaining his velocity Sunday, however, and while he topped out at 94.5 mph with his fastball, he was sitting between 89.9 mph to 91.7 mph in his third and final frame. If Lopez's arm holds up, he'll be locked into an Opening Day rotation spot for Atlanta.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Sitting 93 mph in live BP

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2026

  Lopez sat at 93 mph and touched 94 in the second inning of his live batting practice session Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. It's an encouraging spot to be at this stage of spring training for Lopez, who averaged 95.5 mph with his four-seamer during his All-Star 2024 season. The right-hander made just one start in 2025 before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder, but he is without restrictions this spring and has a spot in Atlanta's rotation locked up.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Locked into rotation spot

  Rotowire Feb 13, 2026

  Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Friday that Lopez will open the season in the team's rotation, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Lopez is coming off a lost 2025 season, having made just one start before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder. He's in Atlanta's camp with a clean bill of health, although it will be interesting to see in spring training how his stuff looks post-surgery. Lopez was an All-Star for Atlanta in 2024, finishing with a 1.99 ERA and 148:42 K:BB over 135.2 innings.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Will be stretched out as starter

  Rotowire Dec 9, 2025

  Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Lopez (shoulder) will be stretched out as a starting pitcher during spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Weiss noted that Lopez could eventually become a bullpen option if that's the route the team ultimately decides to take, but for the time being Lopez will prepare to be in Atlanta's 2026 rotation. The right-hander missed nearly the entire 2025 season following arthroscopic shoulder surgery in April, but he was throwing off a mound by September and should be ready for the start of spring training.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Throws off mound Friday

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2025

  Lopez (shoulder) threw 20 pitches off the mound Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Lopez will throw five more bullpen sessions over the next couple weeks, and the plan is for the right-hander to face live hitters Sept. 30. Lopez will obviously miss the remainder of the 2025 season if that's the plan, but it sounds like he should be close to fully recovered by spring training next year. While Lopez has said he wants to remain a starter, he now says he'd be open to a return to the bullpen, according to Bowman.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: In early stages of throwing program

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2025

  Lopez (shoulder) recently resumed playing catch but remains without a timeline to return from the 60-day injured list, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. The right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery April 1 and was cleared to start throwing again after the All-Star break, but he remains in the early stages of his rehab program. Lopez still appears to have a shot at returning before the end of the season, but if he doesn't advance to throwing off a mound within the next week or two, he likely won't have enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role. Pitching out of the bullpen in September could be an option, however.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Undergoing surgery Tuesday

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2025

  Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Lopez's right shoulder surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The operation is arthroscopic in nature, but the extent of the damage in Lopez's shoulder won't be known until the surgery is performed. He's already been moved to the 60-day injured list and is likely out until the second half even in a best-case scenario.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Sent to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2025

  Atlanta transferred Lopez (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday. Lopez is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, and a best-case scenario would see the right-hander return within a few months of the procedure. Until then, he'll concede his 40-man roster spot to Jason Delay, who was acquired by Atlanta on Thursday in a trade with the Pirates.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Slated for surgery

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2025

  Lopez will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Imaging on Lopez's shoulder revealed only inflammation, but the 31-year-old righty will go under the knife to determine if he has any structural damage that needs correcting. Atlanta will have more information on the duration of Lopez's IL stint once the surgery is completed, but he shouldn't be expected to return for at least a couple of months.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Goes on IL with shoulder inflammation

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2025

  Atlanta placed Lopez on the 15-day injured list Monday with right shoulder inflammation. Lopez's velocity was down throughout spring training, and while it ticked back up in his season debut against the Padres on Friday, he managed just one strikeout over five innings. The right-hander will go on the IL with an arm-related concern for the third time since last season's All-Star break. Bryce Elder was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Lopez's spot on the roster and will start in his place Wednesday versus the Dodgers. Lopez will be eligible for activation in mid-April, but his absence is likely to extend beyond that.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Escapes with no-decision Friday

  Rotowire Mar 29, 2025

  Lopez came away with a no-decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out one. The right-hander didn't display the same kind of dominance or efficiency he flashed in his breakout 2024 campaign and threw only 58 of 94 pitches for strikes in his season debut, before exiting with the score tied 3-3. On the bright side, Lopez's velocity didn't seem to be an issue -- he sat 94-96 mph with his fastball most of the night and topped out at 98.1 mph against Manny Machado in the third inning. Lopez is scheduled to face another tough opponent next week in a road clash with the Dodgers.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Cleared to make next start

  Rotowire Mar 17, 2025

  Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Lopez is "fine" and has been cleared to make his next Grapefruit League start Saturday versus the Tigers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. After Lopez's average fastball velocity sat at around 93 miles per hour -- 2.5 ticks below his season average from 2024 -- in his last Grapefruit League outing back on March 7 against the Twins, Atlanta opted to have the right-hander make his most recent spring appearance on the back fields of camp this past week. Lopez apparently made it though that outing without incident, perhaps suggesting that the diminished velocity he displayed March 7 was simply a bout of arm fatigue. Lopez's investors will still want to keep close tabs on his start Saturday, which will likely be the final time he takes the hill this spring before making his season debut next week in Atlanta's four-game opening series in San Diego.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Decreased velocity Friday

  Rotowire Mar 8, 2025

  Lopez surrendered five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over 3.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game versus the Twins. He failed to record a strikeout. Lopez worked up to 57 pitches (36 strikes) Thursday compared to 44 in his previous outing, though his velocity was noticeably down and inconsistent, as noted by David O'Brien of The Athletic. He averaged just 93 mph on his fastball after averaging 95.5 mph with his heater in 2024, and his slider and curveball experienced similar drops in speed as well. Arm fatigue is fairly common at this stage in spring training, though it may be worth keeping an eye on Lopez, who had issues with a tired arm last season after making the move from the bullpen to the rotation.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Building up

  Rotowire Mar 3, 2025

  Lopez threw 44 pitches (25 strikes) in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, allowing one hit and two walks over 1.2 scoreless innings. He struck out one. The right-hander has yet to give up a run this spring, posting a 3:3 K:BB over 3.2 scoreless innings in two starts. Lopez had a breakout 2024 in his return to a starting role, delivering a 1.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 148:42 K:BB in 135.2 innings for Atlanta, and he's aiming to handle a 200-inning workload in 2025.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Aims for 30-to-35 starts, 200 IP

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2025

  Lopez said this week that his goal is to make 30-to-35 starts and pitch 200 innings in 2025, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Lopez, who threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his spring debut Tuesday against the Red Sox, made 26 appearances (25 starts) and threw 135.2 frames in 2024 in his move from the bullpen to the rotation, which he said through an interpreter "was a good opportunity to establish a base." That was more innings than he threw combined between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, but Lopez has topped 180 innings twice in his career, doing so in back-to-back seasons with the White Sox in 2018 and 2019. The righty dealt with forearm and shoulder trouble in the second half last season but reported to camp healthy and is aiming to take a big step forward with his workload in 2025. Per David O'Brien of The Athletic, Lopez also got better results last season on a normal schedule, posting a 1.52 ERA and 0.97 WHIP during his five starts on four days' rest.

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• Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Reworks contract

  Rotowire Nov 2, 2024

  Lopez signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday. Lopez was originally set to make $11 million in 2025 and 2026 with an $8 million club option for 2027. In an effort to minimize payroll, Atlanta will now pay him $8 million next season while his 2026 salary increases to $14 million, and he's now guaranteed to make $8 million in 2027 (compared to his $4 million option buyout). The 30-year-old posted a minuscule 1.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 135.2 innings this year.

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