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Atlanta Braves: Mike Foltynewicz needs to leap forward in 2020

By Josh Mathews

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park on June 22, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park on June 22, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on August 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

What Folty will we get?

It’s impossible to really know what version of Folty the Atlanta Braves fans will see in 2020. I will say that there’s a nice chunk of fans out there that are ready to write him off because of Game 5.

I am not among those people. I’ll give you that 2019 was a crazy year of ups and downs, but I can’t see the logic in the fans that are ready to wash their hands of him.

Folty has the skills to be an All-Star and he already showed that. That leads me to believe that he can still be an elite pitcher — an ace type. Now, I’ll counteract that by saying that the time is now. Another up-and-down season or a year where his emotions get to him, something of that nature— and I’m not a buyer. Right now, I am.

The Illinois native should slot in as the number two starter behind everyone’s favorite Canadian, Mike Soroka. (Sorry, Scott Thorman). The Atlanta Braves starting rotation could border on the elite this year. However, that’s only going to happen if Folty is at his peak.

Barring any lingering effects from his spring training injury, it appears that his roller-coaster 2019 season appears to be cerebral. That is almost as scary to fans as a major injury. However, with the Atlanta Braves in a window where they can contend for a World Series title, I think that you’ll see a focused Foltynewicz on the hill in 2020.

Next. New season, new hope. dark

My prediction for Foltynewicz’s season: 16-8, 3.15 ERA, 190Ks.

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