Atlanta Braves: Mike Foltynewicz to start Saturday, what to expect

BySteven Teal|
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves prepares to deliver the pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game One of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves prepares to deliver the pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game One of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz will be activated off of the injured list this Saturday. This should be a huge boost to the starting rotation that has lacked stability.

Atlanta Braves fans were excited to learn that right-hander Mike Foltynewicz would be returning to the rotation this weekend against the Rockies.

This is a welcome sight as the starting rotation hasn’t been at full strength all season.

Folty has now completed four rehab starts with Triple-A Gwinnett and has done fairly well.

The Atlanta Braves staff weren’t so worried about Mike having amazing numbers but were more focused on him being healthy with no soreness in the elbow.

In 17 2/3 innings pitched, Folty allowed 17 runs on 12 hits with 9 walks and 14 strikeouts.

His velocity was down a good bit in the first couple of games but has since picked up. His final rehab start saw him sit around 94-96 mph (not where we want him to be, but he’ll get there).

It’s a nice sign that Folty was able to find command of his slider because this pitch was a huge part of his success in 2018.

I don’t expect Folty to be amazing in his first start back but I know he will give us a chance to compete.

We don’t know exactly what we’re going to get from the Atlanta Braves starter since he was sidelined early in Spring Training.

According to ZiPS projections via Fangraphs, Folty is expected to throw 168 innings and go 12-10 across the season.

The projections seem to think Foltynewicz will continue to strike people out and rack up 172 of them in 2019 while averaging 9.25 K/9 and a 3.93 ERA.

The projection for walks is around 63, but I hope that is not very accurate. I don’t think any of us want the Braves to walk any more batters than necessary.

If he can get his velocity back up to a consistent 97/98 mph and continue to have a great feel for his curveball and slider, there’s not a doubt in my mind that Folty can replicate the success he had for the Braves in 2018.

This guy knows how to compete and that is something that I like to see with this ball club. There’s no quit in this team and every single person fights as hard as they can to bring wins to Atlanta.

His numbers don’t look that promising from the four starts he had at Triple-A but the important thing to note is that he is healthy and will be able to help the Braves staff out tremendously.

I think Folty is motivated enough to fight through any adversity he will face in 2019. If he is even half the man he was last year, we are in for something really, really special in Atlanta.

Next. Just How Good is Max Fried?. dark

Your new starting rotation will likely look something like this: Folty, Max Fried, Kevin Gausman, Julio Teheran, and Mike Soroka.

This obviously depends on how well Soroka pitches in his second start of the season. If Soroka doesn’t look ready, Sean Newcomb or Bryse Wilson may find themselves in the mix.

Schedule