Braves place Reynaldo Lopez on IL with shoulder inflammation

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday because of right shoulder inflammation.

Lopez is 4-5 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 79⅓ innings over 13 starts and 13 relief appearances this season. In Monday night's 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, he allowed five runs, six hits and two hits over three innings.

Lopez didn't pitch between July 26 and Sept. 9 due to left knee inflammation and has posted a 12.91 ERA since his return, giving up 11 runs, 13 hits and five walks over 7⅔ innings.

Braves manager Walt Weiss said, "Not sure what the next step is. Obviously he's going to get a little bit of a break here. The hope is he can get over the shoulder thing with a couple weeks of rest and we get the real Reynaldo Lopez back. And if we do, he can help us."

Lopez became the seventh Braves pitcher on the IL, joining right-handers Bryce Elder, Joe Jiménez, Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Robert Suarez along with left-hander Joey Wentz. Right-hander JR Ritchie was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot. Jiménez is beginning a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment with Gwinnett, and Suarez is set to throw a bullpen session Thursday.