Braves right-hander Reynaldo López leaves game with right forearm soreness

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Reynaldo López left his game against the New York Mets on Sunday after three innings because of tightness in his throwing forearm.

Atlanta said the move was a precautionary measure. Lopez is traveling to Atlanta to undergo an MRI. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said the team expected to know more later Sunday.

“Right now he’s got some forearm stiffness and we took him off as a precaution,” Snitker said. “I’m glad he said something because you don’t know these things.”

Lopez, named to the 2024 All-Star Game, allowed three hits in three scoreless innings, striking out two. Three of Lopez’s last five pitches in the game were thrown 95 mph or faster, and his final pitch — an 85.7 mph slider to New York’s Brandon Nimmo — was softly thrown out at second base.

In his first season of a three-year contract with Atlanta, López pitched to a 2.06 ERA in 19 starts and 104 2/3 innings. His three scoreless innings against New York on Sunday gave the 30-year-old right-hander the major league lead in ERA after surpassing the qualifying standard. To be eligible for the ERA title, a pitcher must pitch at least one inning per game played.

López is in his first season as a full-time starter since 2020. He struggled in his previous two starts heading into Sunday’s game, allowing seven runs in 12 innings in back-to-back losses.

After Lopez’s early exit, four Atlanta relievers held New York to just two late runs and three hits over the final six innings to secure Braves’ second straight win.

“I like the way the guys took charge today,” Snitker said. “They lost their starter and they came out and everybody stepped up.”

The injury is the latest blow for Atlanta, which has been plagued by injuries this season. Right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider, who finished fourth in the 2023 National League Cy Young voting, was injured. right elbow surgery and was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 7. Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered his second season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in four seasons on May 26. The team is also without stars Michael Harris II (strained left hamstring), and Max Fried (neuritis of the left forearm) and second baseman Ozzie Albies He fractured his left wrist a week ago.

“It sucks,” first baseman Matt Olson said. “It feels like every week or two we get bad news, so I just hope for the best.”

Lopez is considered a day-to-day man.

___

AP Major League Baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb