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The big hitters in Tuesday night’s brawl between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves have each received a severe punishment.
Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez were each suspended seven games for their roles in the bench-clearing affair.
Lopez threw a pitch up and into Soler, which the latter appeared to take exception to. Soler then attacked Lopez and the two began exchanging numerous punches – not many of which landed.
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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charges Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez on the mound during an MLB game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on April 7, 2026. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
Soler was tackled to the ground by Braves manager Walt Weiss before any major injury occurred, and Lopez was forced out of the scrum.
The Angels player received a standing ovation as he walked back to the dugout after his immediate ejection.
Weiss was an assistant coach the brave in 2021 when the Braves won the World Series. Soler was the World Series MVP that year. He and López were teammates in 2024.
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, California, on April 7, 2026. (Ethan Swope/AP)
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“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things developed,” López said through a translator, according to to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intention to hit him at any point. Then again, it’s just a shame.”
Soler hit a home run off López in the first inning. He is 14-for-23 with five home runs and three doubles against López all-time.
“Obviously I have good numbers against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”
A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves in Anaheim, California, on April 7, 2026. (Ethan Swope/AP)
Both players are appealing the suspensions. For Lopez, if the suspension holds, he would miss one start, but perhaps Atlanta could do with the rotation to keep him on the sidelines at a minimum.
