1 day Ago By Chase Irle, SportsTalkATL
Somehow, the Braves start to the 2025 campaign feels even worse than everything they went through last year. Not only have they dropped their first four games before heading to Los Angeles for a three-game set with the Dodgers, Major League Baseball announced today that Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games for violating the league’s PED policy. He will be eligible to return in early July; however, he will not be eligible to participate in the postseason if the Braves make it that far.
Not great, and to top it all off, the Braves also announced Reynaldo Lopez has been placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. In his place, Bryce Elder has been recalled to Atlanta. The #Braves today placed RHP Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list, backdated to March 29, with right shoulder inflammation, and recalled RHP Bryce Elder to Atlanta.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 31, 2025 Reynaldo Lopez hasn’t looked right since the start of Spring Training, and this confirms the Braves’ worst fears. Shoulder injuries can be incredibly difficult to overcome, and there’s no telling when Lopez might be able to return. It’s early, but the absences of key pieces are already beginning to mount up for the Braves.
The bullpen was a mess to begin with, and the Profar news was a massive blow to an offense that is already without Ronald Acuña Jr. and Sean Murphy . Now, the rotation is looking shoddy, featuring a slew of unproven arms next to Chris Sale .
Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. cannot return soon enough. This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.
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