Assessing the state of the Braves' bullpen after López's early exit

WASHINGTON -- When the Braves scratched Didier Fuentes from his scheduled start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, they didn’t know Reynaldo López was going to record just three outs in an 11-4 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday night.

But the foresight to keep Fuentes available in the event that anything unforeseen occurred could now prove quite valuable.

While Braves manager Walt Weiss wasn’t ready to say Fuentes will be promoted to Atlanta’s roster on Wednesday, there’s no doubt at least one pitcher needs to be added to a pitching staff that was depleted by López’s ugly start.

How ugly was it? Well, López threw 58 pitches over one-plus innings. This is the highest pitch count for any Braves pitcher who has recorded three or fewer outs in a game since pitch counts began being tracked in 1988. Chuck James previously held this distinction courtesy of a 56-pitch, one-inning outing against the Mets on July 30, 2006.

“You’ve got to go back to the drawing board after a game like that,” Weiss said.

The good news is López made it clear he’s healthy and that this outing had nothing to do with his surgically-repaired right shoulder. So, before looking at what went wrong, let’s look at who might be available out of the bullpen with Martín Pérez starting Wednesday night’s game at Nationals Park.

Available: Robert Suarez (closer), Tyler Kinley and Dylan Lee
Tuesday wasn’t a good day for Braves pitchers. The day started with the team announcing Raisel Iglesias was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The good news is the closing duties will now be manned by Suarez, who tallied a NL-best 40 saves for the Padres last year.

The Braves should feel good about who they can turn to during the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. But how will they get there?

Likely available: Dylan Dodd
The lefty reliever pitched just one inning during Tuesday’s loss. So, Weiss can call upon this southpaw if necessary Wednesday.

Possible DFA: Ian Hamilton
Hamilton allowed three runs and needed 31 pitches to get through the seventh inning. He likely wouldn’t be available on Wednesday and seems to be the most likely roster casualty when the Braves add a pitcher.

Even if the Braves choose to keep Hamilton, he won’t be available to pitch again before Thursday.

Not available: Aaron Bummer, José Suarez, Joel Payamps
Suarez actually made sure the evening didn’t turn into a total disaster by completing three innings after López exited. But he won’t be available to pitch before Saturday at the earliest.

Bummer has pitched three straight days and Payamps has pitched the past two days. If the Braves opt to add two pitchers, Payamps would be another potential roster casualty.

Most likely addition: Fuentes
Fuentes could end up being a key part of Atlanta’s rotation at some point this year. But the Braves' No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline (No. 93 overall) might simply be a long relief option over the next few days.

When Fuentes was scratched from Sunday’s start against Memphis, Atlanta was in the midst of this current stretch of playing 10 straight days. There was a desire to keep an optionable piece available in case there was a need for bullpen depth.

It’s safe to say, the current need is greater than anybody could have anticipated.

Other options: Daysbel Hernandez and Hunter Stratton
Neither is a multi-inning option. So, they would only be called up if the Braves end up adding multiple relievers to their bullpen.

López walked three of the first five batters he faced and allowed six Nationals to reach safely before he recorded his first out in Washington’s three-run first. He exited after allowing two straight hits, including a James Wood homer, to begin the bottom of the second.

The right-hander’s fastball touched 95.1 mph and was still clocked at 94.8 mph in the second. So, there aren’t any health-related concerns for the pitcher, who made just one start last year before undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

“It wasn’t the shoulder or the cold weather,” López said through an interpreter. “It was just a bad day.”