Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López is nearing a return from his knee injury and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A on Sunday, according to Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The outing will mark an important step in the veteran right-hander’s recovery as he works toward rejoining Atlanta’s pitching staff.
López, 32, has been a dependable contributor for the Braves this season, particularly because of his ability to handle both starting and relief duties. He has appeared in 24 games, including 11 starts, and owns a 3.64 ERA with 66 strikeouts.
His versatility gives Atlanta another valuable option once he is healthy enough to return. If López avoids any setbacks during his rehab assignment, the Braves could have him back in the majors relatively soon, providing a boost to their pitching staff for the stretch run.
The Braves enter the weekend at 75-53 after responding to a three-game sweep by the Minnesota Twins with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Atlanta now travels to Milwaukee for a three-game series against the 79-49 Brewers, who currently own MLB’s best record, setting up a potential postseason preview.
