Major Setback: Braves Stunned Again! Shocking Blow as Another Star Pitcher is Suddenly Sidelined!

Atlanta Loses Veteran Right-Hander Again

The Atlanta Braves have suffered another setback to their pitching staff, with right-hander Reynaldo López placed on the 15-day injured list on September 15, 2026, because of right shoulder inflammation.

The move came shortly after López returned from an earlier stint on the injured list. MLB’s transaction log confirms the placement, while Atlanta recalled right-hander J.R. Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill his roster spot.

Shoulder Trouble Forces Another Departure

López’s latest injury emerged after his difficult outing against the Chicago Cubs. He surrendered five runs and six hits over three innings in Atlanta’s loss, and manager Walt Weiss subsequently revealed that López had experienced shoulder discomfort at different points during the season.

López explained that it was not necessarily severe pain, but rather that his shoulder simply did not feel right.

A Frustrating Season Takes Another Turn

The injury is particularly significant because López has already dealt with substantial health issues during his recent time in Atlanta.

He missed most of the 2025 season following shoulder surgery and had only recently returned from another injured-list stint before this latest setback.

He finishes the 2026 regular season with a 4.54 ERA across 79⅓ innings, according to MLB’s latest player record.

Braves Turn to J.R. Ritchie

With López unavailable, Atlanta immediately brought J.R. Ritchie back from Gwinnett. The 23-year-old has already appeared in 14 games for the Braves this season, including eight starts, and was scheduled to take López’s place in the rotation.

Manager Walt Weiss said Ritchie had been pitching well in the minors and had made improvements with his strike throwing.

Atlanta Now Faces More Rotation Questions

López’s absence leaves Atlanta with another difficult pitching decision as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

The Braves have already dealt with multiple injuries within their pitching staff, and the latest López setback gives the club one fewer experienced option.

For now, Ritchie is expected to receive an opportunity while Atlanta determines how to manage its rotation and bullpen heading into the postseason.