{"id":658854,"date":"2026-04-02T13:51:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T13:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658854\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T13:51:28","slug":"braves-reynaldo-lopez-continues-comeback-against-diamondbacks-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658854\/","title":{"rendered":"Braves’ Reynaldo Lopez continues comeback against Diamondbacks – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves enter their four-game series, beginning Thursday night in Phoenix, on a high note.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep of Detroit with a 1-0 victory Wednesday, when Zac Gallen threw six scoreless innings and Corbin Carroll in the first inning became only the sixth left-handed hitter to homer off Tarik Skubal in Skubal\u2019s six-year career. <\/p>\n

The Braves had a similar pitching experience. Chris Sale won his second game of the season in a 5-1 decision over the Athletics on Wednesday. The Braves took two of three games from the A\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Atlanta right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) is scheduled to face Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson (0-0, 7.71) in the series opener.<\/p>\n

The Braves\u2019 rotation had been a concern, due in part to injuries to Spencer Strider (oblique) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), but it has been a strength. Atlanta starters are 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA and have allowed nine runs in 32 2\/3 innings this season.<\/p>\n

Sale has given up one run over 12 innings in two quality starts, and he struck out three in beating the A\u2019s early Wednesday before the Braves made the long flight to Phoenix for their first road trip of the season.<\/p>\n

Lopez enters after a quality start in his first outing, when he gave up three hits and a one run \u2014 a solo homer \u2014 in six innings of a no-decision in a 6-2 victory over Kansas City on Saturday. <\/p>\n

Concerns about his velocity were allayed when he touched 97 mph against the Royals after topping out in the low 90s in spring training. He made only one start in 2025 before being diagnosed with a season-ending shoulder injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to throw pain-free is a real blessing,\u201d Lopez said through an interpreter. \u201cI think of just how long it\u2019s been since I\u2019ve actually been able to throw that way. It\u2019s big. It\u2019s a game-changer to be able to throw like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are looking at certain numbers, velo (velocity) and whatever, and I know they didn\u2019t look great in spring training. I think that\u2019s fair, but to me, it was about being healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other side of the Atlanta battery is off to a strong start, too. <\/p>\n

Catcher Drake Baldwin drove in four runs with a two-run single and a two-run double against the A\u2019s on Wednesday, when he also came within inches of his fourth homer in six games. A\u2019s outfielder Denzel Clarke reached over the fence to take away a potential homer in the seventh.<\/p>\n

Lopez, who revitalized his career by going 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA after joining the Atlanta rotation in 2024, is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career relief appearances against Arizona.<\/p>\n

In his first start of the season, Nelson gave up two walks and two homers in a four-run third inning. He didn\u2019t figure into the decision in a 5-4 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed only one other runner before leaving with two outs in the fifth.<\/p>\n

The big blow was Mookie Betts\u2019 three-run homer after a pair of one-out walks in third.<\/p>\n

\u201cHomers are going to happen, but the walks in front of them are usually the decider of how it ends up going,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cYou have to put guys away when you get two strikes and not let the count get deep. <\/p>\n

\u201cI made some pitches I liked, but they didn\u2019t bite on them. I was executing and attacking; just sometimes you have an unfortunate situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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