Braves provide grim update on the Reynaldo Lopez injury

If you’re doing the math at home, 12 weeks from today is July 2. The best-case scenario would be that Lopez’s shoulder took well to the cleanup, and he’s able to ramp back up. Whether that’s as a starter or a reliever will then determine his timeline to return to Atlanta.

If I’m the Braves, I don’t know how you trot him back out there as a starter. Earlier this offseason, the club announced a new three-year, $30 million deal that would pay the former reliever $8 million in 2025, $14 million in ’26 and $8 million in 2027. Essentially, the Braves guaranteed what had been an $8 million option for 2027.

Knowing that, along with the fatigue issues he battled last season, it would be malpractice to continue throwing Reynaldo Lopez as a starter, even if the Braves desperately need him in the rotation.

Last night, Chris Sale didn’t ease rotation concerns. The reigning Cy Young winner was pulled after going 4.2 innings with five strikeouts while surrendering nine hits and five earned runs. Granted, it was a very good Phillies lineup, but Sale’s velocity is down a tick and he looks every bit of 36 years old right now.

In an optimistic light, Lopez’s surgery didn’t reveal structural damage, and Chris Sale could still be shaking the rust off, but at this point, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach are seemingly going to have to carry this unit.