Reynaldo López placed on IL with shoulder inflammation

The Braves will have to absorb the absence of another key player, as the team placed placed right-hander Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation on Wednesday, a day after the All-Star right-hander exited his start against the Nationals after just one inning.

Atlanta recalled right-hander Daysbel Hernández to take López’s place, while also selecting infielder Cavan Biggio to the Major League roster and optioning infielder Luke Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett.

López’s velocity was noticeably down during his lone inning of work on Tuesday; his fastball averaged 91.9 mph — 3.6 mph lower than his season average — per Statcast. His curveball, changeup and slider all registered averages between 2.3 and 4.7 mph lower than his season averages, as well.

“I didn’t really know what was happening,” López said through team interpreter Franco García. “The first pitch went out, and I thought it was 95, and I look up and it was 89. That took me by surprise. That’s something I wasn’t expecting.”

López has been a huge part of the Braves’ rotation; his 2.03 ERA through 24 starts leads all MLB starters (min. 100 IP), and before Tuesday’s one-inning start, he’d averaged 5.5 innings across 23 starts. He missed two weeks in August with right forearm inflammation, but has otherwise been healthy, and had been pitching extremely well since returning from the IL, recording a 1.96 ERA and 34 strikeouts across his past four starts.

Hernández, 27, has made 10 appearances out of the Braves’ bullpen this year, allowing two runs (one earned) over 11 innings (0.82 ERA) with 14 strikeouts. He’s posted a 2.59 ERA over 41 2/3 innings in Triple-A and should provide immediate relief help after Atlanta had to go to the bullpen to cover eight innings on Tuesday following López’s abbreviated start.

The Braves are already without reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., ace right-hander Spencer Strider, All-Star third baseman Austin Riley and second baseman Ozzie Albies due to injuries, with Acuña and Strider both out for the season.