Braves’ Reynaldo Lopez likely to return for clash vs. Rays

Field Level Media

The Atlanta Braves, in an attempt to nail down their postseason pitching plans, are expected to activate veteran Reynaldo Lopez to start the second game of a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

Lopez (4-3, 3.64 ERA) would oppose Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax (6-10, 3.82) in a battle of right-handers.

American League East-leading Tampa Bay (86-58) won the series opener 7-1 on Tuesday and retains the best record in the American League.

Atlanta (85-60) kept its four-game lead over Philadelphia atop the National League East.

Lopez is expected to return from a bout with left knee inflammation, which had kept him sidelined since July 26. He was given the green light after throwing five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Atlanta’s plan was to temporarily move Bryce Elder to the bullpen. The right-hander has not pitched since Aug. 31 because of right knee discomfort. But Elder required right knee surgery to remove bone fragments on Tuesday and will miss at least a month, although he could return for the postseason.

“There’s a chance (he pitches in the postseason),” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “This was the only way it was probably gonna happen, if he had the surgery immediately to give him enough time to possibly make that happen.”

Elder was 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA since July 9 in Pittsburgh when he first felt discomfort in his knee. His spot was skipped in the rotation two times in order to manage his pain. But he struggled in his most recent start against San Francisco on Aug. 31, allowing five runs in a 7-3 loss.

Lopez last pitched on July 26 at Baltimore, when he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his team’s 3-2 win in 11 innings. In five starts in July, Lopez was 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA.

In 13 career appearances against Tampa Bay, three of them starts, Lopez is 2-4 with a 7.45 ERA. He has not faced the Rays since 2023.

Jax was roughed up in his most recent outing last Wednesday against the New York Mets when he allowed six runs (three earned) in 2 2/3 innings of a 10-4 loss. It was his first start since he spent time on the 15-day injured list with elbow discomfort and ended an 11-game streak of producing a five-inning start.

“Really excited to get back out there, get back with these guys,” Jax said afterward. “Just trying to help down the stretch. Rude awakening back to it, but it is what it is and we start working for the next one.”

Jax is 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA in two career relief appearances against Atlanta, having allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Tampa produced four home runs in the series opener. A 455-foot blast by Junior Caminero in the first inning gave him the American League lead in homers with 39.

The Rays made a roster move on Tuesday, placing infielder Taylor Walls on the 10-day injured list and recalling Nick Madrigal from Triple-A Durham.

Madrigal is batting .318 with 16 RBI since signing a minor league contract with the Bulls.