Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez is seeing a change.
The Atlanta Braves became the first team in MLB to reach 20 wins on Sunday, improving to 20-9 after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies.
Atlanta once again looks like one of the best teams in baseball after a disappointing 2025, currently sitting in first place in the NL East with a deep roster and a pitching staff that has continued to evolve as the season progresses.
On Sunday, Braves manager Walt Weiss decided to continue that evolution with a big change involving right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who will shift roles just 29 games into the regular season as Atlanta looks to maximize their options on the mound.
"Braves starters vs DET: Martin Perez (Tuesday) JR Ritchie (Wednesday) and Bryce Elder (Thursday). Reynaldo Lopez will be used as a reliever while he tries to fix some mechanical issues," reported Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
The move comes after Lopez’s most recent outing last Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, when he allowed four runs and recorded just three outs.
Despite that rough appearance, Lopez still owns a respectable 3.74 ERA on the season. But with the Braves surplus of pitching depth, they have the flexibility to move him into the bullpen temporarily while he works through mechanical adjustments.
Weiss does not view this as a permanent shift. The organization still believes in Lopez as a long-term starting pitcher, and his track record supports that confidence. Lopez is now in his third season with Atlanta.
In 2024, his first year with the club, he broke out as an All-Star and posted a dominant 1.99 ERA, finishing 11th in National League Cy Young voting. His 2025 season was derailed by right shoulder surgery, costing him nearly the entire year, but the Braves remain committed to helping him return to form.
Atlanta’s depth is a major reason this move is possible. With Spencer Strider expected to return from the injured list in early May, the rotation will soon regain one of its biggest weapons.
In the meantime, veterans like Martin Perez and rising talents like JR Ritchie have performed well enough to keep the rotation stable. How long Lopez remains in the bullpen may depend on how those arms continue to pitch and how quickly he irons out the mechanical issues Weiss referenced.
For now, the Braves believe this adjustment will give them the best chance to keep winning while helping Lopez get back to the level he showed before last season’s injury.