Reynaldo López Sharp in First Braves Rehab Start

The Atlanta Braves right-hander was promising out of the gate as he works his way back from a knee injury

López looked sharp as he approaches his return to the Braves | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Reynaldo López was sharp for the Gwinnett Stripers in his first rehab start. The Atlanta Braves' right-hander pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three.

He needed just 50 pitches, 35 of which were for strikes. His fastball, which he threw the most by far at 39 total pitches, averaged 93.5 mph and topped out at 95.3 mph. He also showed the curveball seven times and his slider four times.

Only six of his pitches induced whiffs out of 24 swings.

López is working his way back from left knee inflammation that has kept him out virtually the entire month of August. His last start was July 26, but he was supposed to make a start on Aug. 1. The day of his start, he sustained his injury getting ready and hour before the game.

Before he went down with an injury, he had been solid for the team since rejoining the rotation. He has a 3.86 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across his six starts in that time.

Once he returns, the Braves will have to make some decisions regarding the rotation. Come September, that decision will be slightly easier due to an extra roster spot for pitchers. Nonethless, there will be more options for the rotation than for a six-man rotation.

Without López, the options are Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Grant Holmes and Martín Pérez. One of them would have to go to the bullpen if López doesn't. This assumes they keep all of them around, but it seems unlikley any of them would be on th move.

Nonetheless, the Braves will welcome having more options than they can easily know what to do with. Over the last two seasons, healthy starting pitching has been tough to come by. Having anybody who is effective helps.

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