Cobb Reporter

ATLANTA -- Reynaldo López is unlikely to win an ERA title, even if he doesn't allow another earned run for the rest of the season. Despite his impressive 1.83 ERA over 15 starts, an All-Star bid isn't guaranteed. However, López could be a postseason asset if the Braves manage his workload effectively through the remainder of his first full season as a starter since 2019.

After López showed signs of fatigue in a 5-3 loss to the Giants on Tuesday night at Truist Park, Braves manager Brian Snitker confirmed that López would not receive extra rest before his next start. Instead, he will pitch Sunday’s series finale against the Phillies.

“They’re going to have to [pitch on regular rest],” Snitker said. “We’ve [provided an extra day] more than we thought we were going to leaving Spring Training and it’s worked pretty well. But it’s just not a perfect thing, where they’re not going to have to pitch on [regular rest] sometimes.”

When López faces the Phillies on Sunday, it will be only his second start this season on regular rest. The previous occasion was May 25 against the Pirates when he lasted just 4 2/3 innings—his shortest outing until Tuesday's game where he allowed four hits, issued four walks, and gave up two runs over 4 1/3 innings.

“Any pitcher has one of those days where you’re just not feeling it,” López said through a translator. “I wouldn’t say it’s fatigue. I felt great today. I just don’t think I had it. It’s frustrating for sure.”

Snitker noted that this weekend's division showdown influenced their decision to start López on Sunday. The Braves are nine games behind the Phillies in the National League East and may need their pitchers to regularly start on normal rest to compete for a seventh straight division crown—a strategy that risks tiring out starters by postseason time.

López hasn’t thrown more than 66 innings in either of the past two years; Chris Sale has spent most of the past four seasons injured; Charlie Morton is 40 years old. These factors support continuing with extra rest for starters using a six-man rotation.

Even with Tuesday’s performance, López holds a 2.30 ERA in six starts with one extra day of rest and a 1.32 ERA in eight starts with more than one extra day of rest.

Ensuring extra rest typically requires a six-man rotation, which reduces bullpen availability by one arm. Bryce Elder would be on regular rest if brought up for Sunday but can only be recalled due to injury replacement rules after being optioned less than 15 days prior.

Thus, the Braves will rely on López despite his struggles against the Giants when he reached three-ball counts against ten batters and gave up back-to-back homers to LaMonte Wade Jr., and Jorge Soler in the fifth inning.

“I’m feeling really good right now,” López said about his current condition despite recent outings' challenges. “I think the way we structured the days off was really intelligent.”

López has completed 83 2/3 innings through Atlanta's first 83 games and currently leads MLB's ERA standings but won’t qualify after Atlanta's next game without completing one inning per game played by their team.

Some argue that this lighter workload makes him less deserving of an All-Star selection compared to top starters handling more regular work thus far—a view not shared widely within Braves' clubhouse circles.

Reflecting on potential All-Star recognition and its benefits: “It would be a really nice experience to be selected,” said López while acknowledging that additional days off during an All-Star break would also be beneficial but favoring selection given choice between both options.