Reynaldo Lopez returned to Atlanta for MRI

Reynaldo Lopez left Sunday’s game after just three innings with right forearm soreness. Brian Snitker told reporters after the game that Lopez was returning to Atlanta and would undergo an MRI. The Braves could have the results as early as Sunday night.

Needless to say, the Braves can’t afford to lose another starter. Lopez has been instrumental in helping the team stay afloat through injuries and offensive slumps. Snitker said Lopez felt soreness in his final inning and they pulled him as a precaution. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but a stint on the injured list is likely.

Max Fried is currently on injured reserve, but he took a long pass on the field before Sunday’s game. Fried is eligible to come off the injured list Friday, but Snitker wasn’t ready to say whether that would happen or if Fried might need a rehab start before rejoining the rotation.

Despite injuries and a tightening wild-card race, the Braves will stick to their plan and not force their rotation. Grant Holmes will make his first career start in Monday’s series opener at Milwaukee. Tuesday’s starter is still unknown, and Snitker confirmed Sunday after the game that they would push everyone back and give them an extra day. Snitker gave no indication of where they might go Tuesday, but Bryce Elder was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday for Gwinnett.