Player Outlook
Reynaldo Lopez was a setup man for three different teams in 2023, splitting time between the White Sox, Angels by way of a trade, then Guardians via waiver claim. The 29-year-old compiled a career-best 22 holds and six saves while demonstrating increased velocity on his four-seam fastball that he threw 98.2 mph on average. He relied on the pitch more than ever, throwing the heater a career-high 64.3% of the time with excellent results (.188 BA, 46 strikeouts). After closing out 2023 with a scoreless month of September (11 innings), the right-hander finished with a respectable 3.27 ERA along with 83 strikeouts, his most as a full-time reliever. However, after Atlanta signed Lopez to a 3-year pact, beat writers have reported he will stretch out during spring training to possibly contribute as a starter and reliever. Given his career splits as a starter (4.73 ERA) versus reliever (3.01 ERA), one would think Lopez will hold a setup role once again.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 0.00 0.00
2023 158.52.3 66.0 3 7 6 83 34 3.27 1.27
2022 166.52.7 65.3 6 4 63 11 2.76 0.95
3y Avg. 149.53 63.0 4 5 2 67 19 3.14 1.06
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Fantasy Performance by Week
31%
Roster
12%
Start

Fantasy News

  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Wins fifth starter spot

    Lopez will open the season as Atlanta's fifth starter after the team optioned Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Lopez had appeared to be the frontrunner for the final rotation spot throughout the spring, but Atlanta didn't make it official until Elder was removed from the competition Monday. In his transition from the bullpen to a starting role this spring, Lopez was impressive over his 16.2 innings, allowing four runs with a 13:6 K:BB. History suggests that Lopez's best role is as a reliever, and the expectation is that he could see usage in both the rotation and the bullpen this season. He'll at least make for a viable deep-league fantasy target while he's starting and has the backing of an elite Atlanta offense.
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Likely to see varied role

    Lopez is likely to be deployed as both a starter and a reliever over the course of the season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. This isn't a huge surprise, as Lopez hasn't thrown 100 or more innings in a season since 2019, but it does confirm that Atlanta is ready to be flexible with his usage. The 30-year-old right-hander is currently battling Bryce Elder for the fifth starter role to begin the season, and Lopez's velocity was down a bit in a Grapefruit League start Tuesday against the Pirates -- he averaged 94.2 mph with his fastball and topped out at 95.7 mph. Even without his best stuff, he still limited a Pittsburgh lineup that featured most of its Opening Day starters to one run on three hits and three walks over 3.2 innings, as he got stretched out to 58 pitches (34 strikes).
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Sharp again Thursday

    Lopez struck out four and walked one over three scoreless, no-hit innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He didn't enter the game until the fifth inning, but Lopez still got to face a number of Boston regulars and counted Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida among his strikeout victims. The 30-year-old still appears to be in the lead for Atlanta's fifth starter job thanks to his 1.13 ERA and 7:2 K:BB through eight spring innings, but Bryce Elder got the start Thursday and also pitched well, fanning six batters in 3.1 frames. Given that Elder made 31 starts last season and Lopez hasn't thrown more than 66 innings in a season since 2021, this competition could come down to the wire.
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Strong showing this spring

    Lopez has yielded just one run with a 3:1 K:BB over his first five innings of Grapefruit League action as he bids for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation, including three scoreless frames Saturday against the Blue Jays. The word from Mark Bowman of MLB.com heading into camp was that Lopez might have the edge on winning the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and he's done nothing to jeopardize that so far. His competition for the open rotation job hasn't fared as well to begin the spring -- Bryce Elder has permitted five runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter through his first 4.1 innings during Grapefruit League play, while AJ Smith-Shawver gave up three runs over two innings in his first start.
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Could have edge for rotation spot

    Lopez might be the early favorite to open the season as Atlanta's No. 5 starter, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Lopez holds a career 4.73 ERA and 19.8 percent strikeout rate as a starter but a 3.01 ERA and 26.6 percent strikeout rate as a reliever, and all but one of his appearances over the last two seasons have come out of the bullpen. However, Atlanta believes they might be able to coax more out of Lopez as a starter, and at the very least it would be easier to stretch him out now before moving him to the bullpen later rather than vice versa. Lopez's primary competition for the fifth spot in the rotation is Bryce Elder, with AJ Smith-Shawver, Darius Vines, Allan Winans and Dylan Dodd also options.
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Will get stretched out this spring

    Lopez will be stretched out as a starter to begin spring training, but his ultimate role remains uncertain, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. The flamethrowing right-hander hasn't been able to find much sustained success during his career, but Lopez did post a combined 3.02 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 146:45 K:BB over 131.1 innings over the last two seasons while getting the start in only one of his 129 appearances, so he seems better suited to bullpen work. On the other hand, he converted only six of 17 save chances during that time, suggesting he's a risky option in high-leverage spots. Nonetheless, an Atlanta squad that had its rotation depth tested in 2023 will keep its options open with the 30-year-old early in the spring. However he gets deployed, Lopez figures to have a significant role after signing a three-year, $26 million contract with the AL East champs in November.
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  • Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Gets three years, $30M from Atlanta

    Lopez signed a three-year, $26 million contract with Atlanta on Monday. The deal contains an $8 million club option or $4 million buyout for the 2027 season, so Lopez will net $30 million over the life of the deal. Atlanta had already re-signed Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez and traded for Aaron Bummer and they've now brought in Lopez to reinforce their bullpen. Lopez made a full-time move to relief in 2022 and has produced a 3.02 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 146:45 K:BB over 131.1 innings covering the last two seasons. Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Lopez will be stretched out during spring training to give Atlanta a rotation option, with the possibility that he could contribute both as a starter and reliever. In all likelihood, Lopez will wind up in the bullpen and step in as one of the top setup options in front of closer Raisel Iglesias.
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  • Guardians' Reynaldo Lopez: Snags win Saturday

    Lopez (3-7) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win Saturday over the Rangers. Lopez kept the game close in the top of the eighth inning, allowing the Guardians to pull ahead in their half of the frame. This was Lopez's seventh outing with Cleveland, and he's posted 6.2 scoreless innings with a 6:3 K:BB while adding three holds in a setup role. When accounting for his time with the Angels and White Sox earlier in the year, he's pitched to a 3.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 77:33 K:BB with six saves and 17 holds over 61.2 innings.
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  • Guardians' Reynaldo Lopez: Added by Cleveland via waivers

    Lopez was claimed off waivers by the Guardians on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Cleveland scooped up Lopez, Matt Moore and Lucas Giolito from the Angels via waivers, taking on their salaries but not having to give up any players in the process. Lopez has posted a 3.93 ERA and 71:30 K:BB over 55 relief innings for the White Sox and Angels this season. He will give the Guardians a capable setup man ahead of closer Emmanuel Clase.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Placed on waivers Tuesday

    The Angels placed Lopez on waivers Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Lopez has pitched to a solid 2.31 ERA and 19:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings since being acquired from the White Sox in late July, but the Angels have made him available to other teams prior to the Sept. 1 postseason eligibility deadline. Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk were also waived Tuesday in an attempted salary dump.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Notches second save as Angel

    Lopez earned a save over the Rays in the first game of a twin bill Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one scoreless inning. Angels closer Carlos Estevez has struggled of late, though his lack of usage in a save situation in the matinee of the doubleheader was probably due to him throwing 43 pitches over 1.2 frames while taking the loss Friday. Lopez thus assumed closer duties with Los Angeles up a run in the ninth inning, and he worked around a leadoff single to secure the save. It was his second save in nine games since joining the Angels on July 26, and he's given up only two runs while posting a 16:3 K:BB across 9.2 frames during that stretch. There's no indication that Estevez has lost his closing role, but Lopez has pitched well enough since joining the team to take over ninth-inning duties if manager Phil Nevin does eventually decide to go in a different direction.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Activated from bereavement list

    Lopez was activated Friday from the bereavement list, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Lopez will be available again out of the Angels' bullpen Friday night against the Astros after spending four days away from the team following a death in his family. Zack Weiss was optioned in a corresponding move.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Moves to bereavement list

    Lopez (personal) was placed on the bereavement list Sunday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. Lopez recently had a death in the family, so he'll step away from the team for a few days. Players can be on the bereavement list for 3-to-7 days, so the right-hander should be back with the Angels sometime this week.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Notches first save since trade

    Lopez earned a save over Atlanta on Monday, walking two batters and striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings. Lopez was acquired in a trade with the White Sox last week and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames in his Angels debut Saturday. The right-hander was summoned with one out in the eighth inning Monday and got the remaining five outs for Los Angeles to pick up his fifth save of the campaign and his first since May 5, when he was still with Chicago. Lopez's opportunity to close Monday was a consequence of Carlos Estevez tossing 34 pitches the day before. Estevez is likely to get the majority of the save chances for the Angels moving forward, so fantasy managers hunting saves need not rush to the waiver wire to grab Lopez.
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  • Angels' Reynaldo Lopez: Heading to Anaheim

    The Angels acquired Lopez and right-hander Lucas Giolito from the White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for catcher Edgar Quero and left-hander Ky Bush, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Lopez has taken a noticeable step back from his 2022 campaign, posting a 4.29 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 42 innings in Chicago this season. He'll now help shore up the Los Angeles bullpen and likely serve primarily in middle relief due to consistency issues.
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  • White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Remains inconsistent

    Lopez has a 6.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across his last seven appearances while also picking up one win, one hold, one loss and one blown save. Lopez has made seven appearances since Liam Hendriks (elbow) last took the mound, four of which have been scoreless. He's allowed multiple runs on two other occasions and has particularly struggled with his control by walking four batters across seven frames. Lopez continues to pitch late in games, though most of his appearances in recent weeks have come with the White Sox losing. Between his inconsistent success and usage, a return to regular save chances doesn't seem likely for Lopez in the near future.
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  • White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: More setup work Saturday

    Lopez allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out one across two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's game against the Astros. Lopez entered the game in the seventh inning with the task of protecting a one-run lead. He allowed a pair of singles prior to being pulled but was charged with a run after Joe Kelly allowed an inherited runner to score. Lopez has now allowed at least one earned run in four of his last six appearances, during which he's also tallied one save while blowing two opportunities and also taking a loss. Meanwhile, Kendall Graveman has picked up each of the White Sox's last two saves. That combination certainly suggests Lopez isn't currently an option in the mix to serve as the team's closer, and it won't get any better for him once teammate Liam Hendriks returns to the mix.
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  • White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Nails down fourth save

    Lopez walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Reds. The right-hander appears to be fully over the biceps soreness he dealt with earlier in the week, as Lopez pitched for a second straight day and reached 100 mph with six of his 12 pitches. He's struggled as the White Sox closer so far, blowing half of his eight save chances while posting an 8.16 ERA and 1.60 WHIP despite a 32.8 percent strikeout rate. With Liam Hendriks (illness) having begun a rehab assignment, Lopez could be back in a setup role before the end of the month.
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  • White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Blows fourth save

    Lopez (biceps) blew the save Thursday against the Twins. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out one over one inning. Lopez had been dealing with bicep fatigue since exiting Sunday's outing due to the issue but was cleared for action Thursday and ended up toeing the rubber in the eighth inning. Though Lopez allowed just one hit in his only frame of work, it was a costly one, as Byron Buxton clubbed a solo home run to equalize the score 2-2. The 29-year-old righty is off to a poor start to 2023, holding an 8.78 ERA to pair with an 0-2 record while converting on just three of seven save attempts. The only saving grace for Lopez has been his strikeout ability, fanning 20 in 13.1 innings. With Liam Hendriks (illness) on the 15-day injured list, Lopez could still see some opportunities moving forward, though Keynan Middleton or Kendall Graveman could push him for temporary closing duties given Lopez's struggles.
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  • White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Hopes to pitch Thursday

    Lopez (biceps) is feeling better and hopes to be available Thursday against the Twins, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Lopez hasn't pitched since exiting an appearance Sunday with right biceps fatigue, but he's on the mend. The reliever is just 3-for-6 in save chances and has blown each of his last two with an overall 8.76 ERA this year. Even if Lopez is available Thursday, the White Sox might look in another direction if a save opportunity presents itself.
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