Reynaldo Lopez's Delivery Is Broken and Atlanta Just Moved Him to the Bullpen to Fix It

The Atlanta Braves had big plans for Reynaldo Lopez this season. He was supposed to be their No. 2 starter coming out of camp. Then his mechanics fell apart, and now he's heading to the bullpen, at least for now.

Manager Walt Weiss broke the news Sunday: Lopez is moving out of the rotation to work through a delivery flaw that's been plaguing him. The timing stings. After making just one start in 2025 before shoulder surgery sidelined him, Lopez came into this season with a respectable 2.18 ERA through four starts. But last Tuesday against Washington, he imploded. Four runs on five hits and three walks in one inning in an 11-4 loss. That was the moment the Braves decided they needed a different approach.

A Reliever Detour for a Starter Who Belongs in the Rotation

"We see him as a starter," Weiss told reporters, and he wasn't blowing smoke. "He's working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he's getting right there. And when he's right, he's one of our best starters." The message is clear: this is temporary. "So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He's going to help us out of the pen in the short term."

That's not just coach-speak either. Lopez actually has serious pedigree as both a starter and reliever over his 11 seasons at the big league level. His résumé speaks for itself: 48-55 career record with a 3.93 ERA across 273 appearances, including 128 starts. In 2024, his first season with Atlanta, Lopez earned his first All-Star nod and finished 11th in National League Cy Young voting. He posted a 1.99 ERA with 148 strikeouts and 42 walks over 135 2/3 innings that year. So the Braves know what he's capable of when his delivery is locked in.

Atlanta's Rotation Gets a Shot in the Arm

The bullpen move opens up opportunities for the next wave of Braves arms. Right-hander JR Ritchie, just 22 years old, stayed on the major league roster after his debut Thursday against Washington. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven over seven innings, and he's lined up to make his first home start Wednesday against Detroit.

The Braves are also banking on reinforcements from their injury list. Right-hander Spencer Strider is expected to make his season debut as soon as this weekend at Colorado after starting the year on the injured list with a strained oblique.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.