White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: More setup work Saturday
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Lopez allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out one across two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's game against the Astros.
Lopez entered the game in the seventh inning with the task of protecting a one-run lead. He allowed a pair of singles prior to being pulled but was charged with a run after Joe Kelly allowed an inherited runner to score. Lopez has now allowed at least one earned run in four of his last six appearances, during which he's also tallied one save while blowing two opportunities and also taking a loss. Meanwhile, Kendall Graveman has picked up each of the White Sox's last two saves. That combination certainly suggests Lopez isn't currently an option in the mix to serve as the team's closer, and it won't get any better for him once teammate Liam Hendriks returns to the mix.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Serves as setup man
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Lopez struck out one and did not allow a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday against the Royals.
Lopez protected a two-run lead while facing the heart of the Royals' lineup. It's unclear whether he was purposefully used in the highest-leverage situation in the game, or if he has been demoted to a setup role. The latter would certainly be justified, as Lopez has a 7.63 ERA with four blown saves across 16 appearances to start the season. Kendall Graveman picked up the save.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Nails down fourth save
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Lopez walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Reds.
The right-hander appears to be fully over the biceps soreness he dealt with earlier in the week, as Lopez pitched for a second straight day and reached 100 mph with six of his 12 pitches. He's struggled as the White Sox closer so far, blowing half of his eight save chances while posting an 8.16 ERA and 1.60 WHIP despite a 32.8 percent strikeout rate. With Liam Hendriks (illness) having begun a rehab assignment, Lopez could be back in a setup role before the end of the month.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Blows fourth save
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Lopez (biceps) blew the save Thursday against the Twins. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out one over one inning.
Lopez had been dealing with bicep fatigue since exiting Sunday's outing due to the issue but was cleared for action Thursday and ended up toeing the rubber in the eighth inning. Though Lopez allowed just one hit in his only frame of work, it was a costly one, as Byron Buxton clubbed a solo home run to equalize the score 2-2. The 29-year-old righty is off to a poor start to 2023, holding an 8.78 ERA to pair with an 0-2 record while converting on just three of seven save attempts. The only saving grace for Lopez has been his strikeout ability, fanning 20 in 13.1 innings. With Liam Hendriks (illness) on the 15-day injured list, Lopez could still see some opportunities moving forward, though Keynan Middleton or Kendall Graveman could push him for temporary closing duties given Lopez's struggles.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Hopes to pitch Thursday
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Lopez (biceps) is feeling better and hopes to be available Thursday against the Twins, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Lopez hasn't pitched since exiting an appearance Sunday with right biceps fatigue, but he's on the mend. The reliever is just 3-for-6 in save chances and has blown each of his last two with an overall 8.76 ERA this year. Even if Lopez is available Thursday, the White Sox might look in another direction if a save opportunity presents itself.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Avoiding IL
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Testing on Lopez's right biceps came back negative and he's expected to avoid an injured-list stint for the time being, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Lopez had to exit an appearance Sunday versus the Rays due to biceps fatigue, but it sounds like he's avoided anything serious. He will be shut down for a couple days but could conceivably be available to pitch later this week.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Dealing with bicep issue
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Lopez was removed from Sunday's appearance against the Rays due to fatigue in his bicep, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Lopez tossed 3.1 scoreless innings over his last three appearances but struggled during Sunday's outing, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while failing to strike out a batter in one-third of an inning. It's unclear whether his bicep issue will force him to miss additional time, but he'll at least be able to recover Monday before the White Sox begin a three-game series against Minnesota.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Ugly blown save against Tampa Bay
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Lopez (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Friday against the Rays, giving up a game-winning home run to Brandon Lowe. However, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol after the game said he still has confidence in Lopez, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
It was an ugly outing for Lopez as he gave up two home runs and three hits without recording an out in a 7-6 loss. While the right-hander has the confidence of his manager for now, he may not have a firm grip on the closer job. He entered the game with a 6.23 ERA, and it ballooned to 9.35 after his second blow save in five chances. However, he does have a 15:5 K:BB in 8.2 innings.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Notches third save
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Lopez struck out three batters in 1.1 perfect innings to record his third save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Phillies during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
The right-hander wrapped up a combined one-hit shutout for the White Sox, topping out at 99.8 mph with his fastball on his final pitch as he struck out Trea Turner. Lopez stumbled out of the gate this season, but he appears to be finding his footing, fanning multiple batters in five of his last six appearances. With Liam Hendriks (illness) still lacking a target date for his return, Lopez will continue to hold down the fort in the ninth inning for Chicago.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Handed first loss
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Lopez (0-1) allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Orioles.
Lopez entered the game in the seventh inning with one out and runners on first and second. He retired the first batter he faced without incident but then gave up a hit, walk and double in succession to turn a three-run lead into a one-run deficit. Lopez is the only White Sox pitcher to have recorded a save this season, but he's now allowed at least one earned run in four of his seven appearances. That could lead manager Pedro Grifol to rethink his usage of Lopez.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Tallies second save
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Lopez picked up the save in Monday's 4-3 victory over the Twins. He allowed zero runs on zero hits and zero walks while striking out three over 1.1 innings.
Lopez secured his second save of the 2023 campaign without much difficulty. He fanned the final batter of the eighth innings and set the side down in order in the ninth by striking out a pair and inducing a groundout to third base. After allowing three runs over his first 2.1 frames of work, it was a good sign to see the reliever navigate the end of the game with ease Monday afternoon.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Struggles in non-save situation
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Lopez allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one across one inning in Sunday's 6-3 win against the Astros. He did not factor into the decision.
Lopez entered the game in the ninth inning with the White Sox up by five runs. He struggled with his control by walking the first two batters he faced before allowing a pair of singles to account for the damage. Lopez appears to be the preferred option to close out games in Chicago, but he has now allowed three earned runs across his first two innings of work.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Earns save in season opener
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Lopez picked up the save in Thursday's 3-2 victory over Houston. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one inning.
With Liam Hendriks (illness) opening the season on the injured list, fantasy managers have been speculating on who would get the first crack at a save for the White Sox. Lopez became the answer to that question Thursday, as he was called upon in the ninth inning and was able to close things out despite giving up a solo home run to Yordan Alvarez and a walk to Kyle Tucker. Kendall Graveman did well as the setup man, pitching a scoreless ninth inning, and he could certainly see some closing opportunities as well. It appears that Lopez will at least be a consideration, though, until Hendriks is able to return.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Could be part of committee
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Lopez is set to serve as a high-leverage arm for the White Sox this season, Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports. "He's a special talent, and he's also a special kid," said manager Pedro Grifol. "He likes the moment. He likes the stage."
Grifol swooned about how special he thinks Lopez is, having strategized against him for the past several years as the Royals' bench coach from 2020-22. The skipper indicated that bullpen usage will be determined by game situations, not a particular inning designation, so it sounds like Lopez will enter the season as part of a saves committee along with Kendall Graveman.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Avoids arbitration
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Lopez signed a one-year contract with the White Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Lopez found his groove as a full-time reliever in 2022, holding a 2.76 ERA and 63:11 K:BB over 65.1 innings. He was one of the team's most trusted relievers by the end of the season and could be in the mix for saves in 2023 while Liam Hendriks (cancer) recovers.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Activated for Game 2
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Lopez (back) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Royals, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Lopez suffered the injury during his first appearance after the All-Star break, but he's now been cleared to rejoin Chicago's active roster. The 28-year-old has been a key bullpen piece for the White Sox this year with a 2.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Ramping up
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Lopez (back) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and will throw a sim game over the weekend, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Lopez was placed on the injured list July 28, but the move was retroactive to July 25. It was hoped that he would have only a minimum stint, and this ramp-up schedule suggests he could be activated when first eligible Tuesday. Lopez has been a key part of the White Sox's bullpen, maintaining a 2.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings for the season.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Eyeing minimum-length IL stint
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Lopez (back) said Sunday that he's making good progress and expects to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible Aug. 9, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Lopez's lower-back strain forced him to the IL on Thursday, but he already resumed throwing Saturday after two doctors quickly determined he wouldn't require surgery to address the injury. The right-hander has converted to a full-time relief role in 2022 and has generated a 2.98 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 42.1 innings while collecting four wins and four holds.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Placed on injured list
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Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list with a lower-back strain Thursday, retroactive to July 25.
Lopez's back injury has kept him off the mound since Saturday, and he'll be sidelined for at least another week and a half after being diagnosed with a strain. It's not yet clear when the White Sox expect the right-hander will return to action.
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White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Dealing with back issue
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Lopez hasn't pitched since Saturday while managing a back injury, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Lopez surrendered a run over one-third of an inning and was charged with a blown save Saturday, though it's unclear if that's when the back issue first surfaced. The White Sox have a scheduled day off Thursday, and it's unclear if the 31-year-old, who has a 3.61 ERA across 77.1 innings this year, will be available Friday versus the A's.
