Reynaldo Lopez will return from a five-game suspension to get the starting assignment for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night when they host the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins snapped their three-game losing streak on Monday with a 10-4 victory over the Braves in the opener of a three-game series. Miami scored only three runs in a series sweep by the Detroit Tigers before producing three successive three-run innings against Atlanta.
Lopez (1-0, 1.15 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Max Meyer (1-0, 3.68) of Miami on Tuesday.
Lopez was suspended for seven games after inciting a brawl in his most recent start, against the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday. Lopez threw high and inside to Jorge Soler after the slugger had homered off him.
The suspension was appealed and reduced to five games, essentially pushing Lopez’s start back one day.
“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” Lopez said. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”
Lopez, who missed almost the entire 2025 season with right shoulder inflammation, has looked strong in his three starts. In his last outing, against the Angels, he allowed two unearned runs on three hits, two walks and had a season-high seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of his team’s 7-2 victory. Lopez has not allowed more than one earned run in any outing this season.
In four career appearances (two starts) against Miami, he is 0-1 with a 2.65 ERA.
It will be the fourth start of the season for Meyer, who beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 Thursday in his last outing. He threw five innings and allowed one run on four hits.
“We saw some fastballs in the mid-90s with really good carry,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “I think he’s throwing it better than he has in the past. You pair that with the breaking stuff, the slider around 90 and the sweeper, and it makes him tough.”
The Marlins still hope Meyer can meet the expectations they had when he was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft. His 2025 season was cut short on June 3 when he was placed on the injured list with a left hip impingement.
“I just have to execute some of my two strike pitches a little bit better,” Meyer said. “That leads to three more balls, and that’s where I’m getting my walks because I’m not able to have a competitive 0-2 pitch. I have to clean that up, and I think those walks will go down and I’ll be able to go a little bit deeper into the games.”
Meyer has made three career starts against the Braves, going 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA. He has struggled away from home overall in his career, going 2-6 with a 5.69 in 12 starts.
The Braves made a roster move on Monday, recalling right-handed reliever Rolddy Munoz from Triple-A Gwinnett and designating utility man Luke Williams for assignment.
Munoz pitched Monday and allowed three runs — including a homer on his first pitch — in two innings in his Atlanta debut.
–Field Level Media
