Martín Pérez was pushed into Saturday's start for the Braves against the Nationals after Reynaldo López was scratched with left knee inflammation 35 minutes before game time.
The late change came with Atlanta already in control of the four-game series, having won the first two games. Pérez had been lined up to start Sunday, but the Braves moved him up once López was ruled out.
How the Braves got here
López had been back in the rotation since June 26 after beginning the season as a starter, moving to the bullpen and making 13 appearances before returning to the rotation. He had worked through a mixed run since then, going 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA while also throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Baltimore on July 26.
The scratch forced Atlanta to adjust quickly, but the Braves did have a logical replacement on hand. Pérez entered the game with a 6-6 record and a 3.49 ERA, and he had made 16 starts with four relief appearances. He was already scheduled to take the ball Sunday, so the move kept the team from having to reach deeper into the pitching staff on short notice.
What it means for the series
For the Braves, the change mostly altered the order of the pitching plan rather than the overall shape of the series. Atlanta was already ahead 2-0, and Pérez taking the mound Saturday simply shifted the rotation ahead by one day.
That kind of adjustment is common over a long season, but the timing made this one notable. With López unavailable and Pérez ready, the Braves could stay on track in the series without changing the rest of the weekend plan.
