The Atlanta Braves activated All-Star right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from the 15-day injured list and slated him to start Saturday night against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
Lopez, selected to his first All-Star Game this season, went on the IL on Sept. 11 because of right shoulder inflammation.
His return comes with the Braves (87-71) battling with the New York Mets (87-71) and Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72) for the two remaining National League wild-card berths. The San Diego Padres (92-68) have clinched the other spot.
The Braves have four games remaining entering Saturday, including a home doubleheader with the Mets on Monday of games postponed from Wednesday and Thursday by the approach of Hurricane Helene.
In a corresponding move, Atlanta optioned right-hander John Brebbia to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Lopez, 30, has an 8-5 record this season, his first with the Braves, with a 2.03 ERA and 42 walks and 137 strikeouts over 128 2/3 innings in 24 starts. In nine seasons with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023) and Braves, Lopez is 47-54 with six saves and a 3.95 ERA over 265 games (121 starts).
He declared himself good to go after he pitched his second side session on Thursday.
"Whatever the team wants to do, obviously, it's their call," Lopez said through an interpreter, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "But if you're asking me how I feel, I feel like I'm ready to go out there."
Brebbia, 34, signed as a free agent with the Braves on Aug. 31 after his release by the Chicago White Sox. He has a 2.70 ERA with two walks and nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings over five relief appearances.
He was 0-6 with two saves, a 6.29 ERA, 17 walks and 58 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings over 54 relief appearances with the White Sox. Brebbia is a career 15-21 with four saves and a 3.80 ERA in 354 games (21 starts) for the St. Louis Cardinals (2017-19), San Francisco Giants (2021-23), White Sox (2024) and Braves.
