ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Prior to the Atlanta Braves’ series opener against the Houston Astros at Truist Park on Friday, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez threw 20 pitches off the mound and was entirely pain-free after several years of shoulder issues.

It was the second time he’s thrown off the mound since undergoing arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in April. Lopez made one start this season before he went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.

“(Lopez has) been through a lot all year,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Hopefully, he gets to that point where he throws batting practice and can feel like he can have a normal offseason and not be in a rehab situation.”

It’s progress for the 31-year-old, who was slotted into the Opening Day starting rotation alongside Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes and AJ Smith-Shawver after a solid 2024 campaign, where he pitched to a 1.99 ERA across 135.2 innings.

At one point, they were all on the 60-day injured list at once. Sale has since returned.

MORE COVERAGE: Braves-Astros injury report: Houston’s Luis Garcia likely done for season with elbow injury

Lopez has five more bullpens in North Port before he’ll face hitters on Sept. 30. He says he’d prefer to be a starter in 2026, but is open to anywhere the team sees fit.

“I want to start,” Lopez said. “If they decide to put me in the bullpen, that’d be okay too.”

Snitker faces son, Troy, once again

Friday’s game is a little more special to Snitker. He’ll face his son, Troy, who is a hitting coach for the Astros.

“It’s pretty special every time we do it,” Brian Snitker said. “We’ve gotten to share a really cool one in the World Series and then during the summer. It’s good to have him home for three days. I don’t see him a lot.”

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker and Houston Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker speaks during a news conference before Game 1 of baseball’s World Series Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)

Troy was a 19th-round pick for the Braves in 2011 and used to tag along with his dad for offseason workout at Turner Field. He stopped playing in 2013, became a college coach, and was hired to be the hitting coach for Double-A Corpus Christi in Houston’s system in 2018. He spent just one season there before moving on to work for Houston’s major league club.

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The pair’s World Series matchup in 2021 was a heartfelt father-son experience for the Snitker family. The Braves ultimately came out on top, and Snitker earned the family’s first ring. Troy reached the World Series in 2019 with the Astros, but they fell to the Washington Nationals in seven games.

First pitch for Braves-Astros on Friday is at 7:15 p.m.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast tonight’s Braves game throughout the Southeast.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray simulcast by tuning into Atlanta News First over the air on channel 46 or on YouTube TV, Dish Network, DirecTV, Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.