Atlanta Braves: Where does Touki Toussaint fit in after a rocky 2019?
By Josh Mathews
The best of times, the worst of times
On April 13, after Sean Newcomb allowed seven base runners and four earned runs in an inning and a third, Toussaint marched out and won the game for Atlanta. Touki pitched six scoreless innings against the New York Mets striking out eight batters and walking two — perhaps his finest performance of his pro career.
He was rewarded with a start a week later in the second game of a doubleheader the Atlanta Braves played against the Cleveland Indians. Touki imploded, lasting 1.1 innings and gave up seven earned runs — in part thanks to three hit batters and a walk.
The Braves miraculously won the game 8-7, thanks to excellent bullpen work and a five-run ninth inning that was capped by a two-run double by Ronald Acuna Jr. to seal the win.
After what were his best and worst major league outings, Toussaint seemed to settle into a bullpen role.
In relief, May 3 through June 4: 9 appearances, 17 innings, 1.59 ERA, 4.3 BB/9, 9.5 K/9.
So maybe that was his niche. However, before his ultimate demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett, the next month or so went like this: June 9 to July 18: 13 appearances, 17.1 innings, 8.31 ERA, 7.8 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
What happened here?
In nearly the same sample size, Touki flipped the script and went from very good (but shaky with the walks) to terrible.
It’s all about command. When Touki is right, his stuff is so good that he can live with walking some batters. But, if his mistakes are getting hit in addition to his walks, boy, oh boy, things go bad fast.
When you don’t know what you’re going to get from a pitcher, especially when you’re a contending team, there’s just not a spot for them on the roster.