López returning to rotation as Braves shake up pitching staff

SAN DIEGO -- Reynaldo López is heading back to the rotation. As for Robert Suarez, the Braves remain optimistic about his sore right forearm.

The Braves reshaped their pitching staff on Wednesday, when they added two veteran relievers, Tyler Kinley and Ian Hamilton, and announced that López will start against the Giants on Friday. This will be the 2024 All-Star’s sixth start of the season and first since he was moved to the bullpen in late April.

Lopez will aim to throw approximately 60 pitches. The Braves haven’t announced who will follow during what will essentially be a bullpen game. Hurston Waldrep might be a candidate for Atlanta’s pitching staff in the near future. But it seems the club would like for him to make at least one more start for Triple-A Gwinnett before becoming a part of the bullpen or rotation plans.

Wednesday’s most influential news may have been manager Walt Weiss’ update on Suarez, who was unavailable in Tuesday’s 10-inning loss to the Padres. The All-Star reliever’s availability for Wednesday’s game was described as a gametime decision.

“He's going through all the drills and throwing and all the tests and those types of things,” Weiss said. “He feels like he's headed in the right direction.”

Along with announcing their plan for López, the Braves activated right-handed reliever Kinley from the injured list and recalled Hamilton from Triple-A Gwinnett. To create roster space, JR Ritchie (MLB’s No. 56 prospect, Braves’ No. 2 prospect) was optioned to Gwinnett and Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment by Atlanta for a fifth time this year.

Ritchie will need to improve his command. The rookie produced a 14 percent walk rate in 40 2/3 innings with Atlanta. He issued two walks during San Diego’s five-run second inning on Tuesday.

These moves come one day after a short bullpen bit the Braves for the second time during a 3-9 skid. Carrasco surrendered a late lead when he was given a high-leverage assignment in two of those nine losses. The first occurrence came against the White Sox on June 9 and the second was during Tuesday’s 10-inning loss to the Padres.

“Over the course of the season, we're going to be protective of our arms, and there's going to be certain nights where you know guys aren't available,” Weiss said.

Having Kinley back strengthens the bullpen’s depth. He has posted a 3.18 ERA in 31 appearances this year and he constructed a 0.72 ERA in 24 appearances for Atlanta last year. Hamilton’s presence should also help. He has a 3.75 ERA in 126 career appearances.

Lopez’s return to the rotation comes after he allowed just one hit and one unearned run over three innings in Sunday’s loss to the Brewers. His four-seam fastball averaged 95.3 mph during the 58-pitch effort. This pitch averaged 95.5 mph when he posted a 1.99 ERA over 26 appearances (25 starts) in 2024. But before Sunday, this year’s average velo was 94.2 mph.

If Lopez can get back to where he was before undergoing shoulder surgery one start into the 2025 season, the Braves will gain some needed stability in their rotation.

“We feel like he's in a good place right now,” Weiss said. “We feel like maybe we need a little help in the rotation.”