Off-season acquisition from the Atlanta Braves joins a rare group in team history over the past 30 years

The signing of pitcher Reynaldo Lopez by the Atlanta Braves over the winter could turn out to be one of the best decisions of the entire offseason.

Having served as a reliever almost exclusively since 2022, the Braves have said they want to use Lopez as a starter, and it has reached historic proportions.

By @JayHayKid from the “Baseball is Dead” podcast:

Brave pitchers with ERAs below 2 in the first 11 starts of a season, Wild Card Era:

Reynaldo Lopez (2024)
Bryce Elder (2023)
Michael Soroka (2019)
Shelby Miller (2015)
Julio Tehran (2014)
Brandon Beachy (2012)
Jair Jurrjens (2011)
Tom Glavine (2002)
Greg Maddux (1995, 97)

Anytime you’re on a roster with Hall of Famers Maddux and Glavine, you’re doing something right. Lopez is 3-2 this year with a 1.85 ERA and is in line for an All-Star Game appearance this summer. He struck out 62 batters in 63.1 innings.

Given that he has only started one game since 2022 this season, it is unclear if Lopez will be able to serve as a starter all year, but in the absence of Spencer Strider, the team has certainly need everything he gave them.

Lopez is in his ninth year in the big leagues with the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Braves.

He is 42-51 with a 4.11 ERA. He also has six career saves.

The Braves are 35-25 this season and will face the Nationals Friday night at Nationals Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.

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