The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Folty is fully tuned in to stakes
Braves pitcher ready to show rival Nationals he can handle pressure.
Mike Foltynewicz is relishing a rematch with the Nationals.
The Braves right-hander was obliterated in his last start against Washington, on June 12. He was tagged for 11 hits and eight runs over just 3⅓ innings, the Braves’ lone loss of the series.
Since then, Foltynewicz has allowed four runs over his past 19 innings (three starts). In his last start, Foltynewicz took a no-hitter into the ninth inning Friday in Oakland but surrendered a lead-off homer on a 3-2 pitch to Matt Olson.
The Braves open a four-game series in Washington today before heading into the All-Star break.
“Whatever happened that game happened,” Foltynewicz said. “We’re on a good streak right now and have a couple good teams ahead of us before the break. We’re just worried about getting ready for Washington, watching video on them and seeing how their lineup’s looking now that (shortstop) Trea (Turner) is (injured), all that. So we’re just getting ready for them for a good series before the break.”
The loss of Turner (broken wrist) changes the dynamic of the
Nationals’ lineup. Between injuries and Washington’s porous bullpen, the Braves, despite sitting nine games back entering Wednesday play, see an opportunity.
The opener falls on Foltynewicz’s shoulders tonight. It will be his third start against the Nationals this season. Before the previous disaster, he limited them to two runs in seven innings April 18.
While Foltynewicz is curious to see how the Nationals’ lineup looks, one test remains the same: matching its aggression.
“Just stay aggressive with them,” he said. “I know they’re an aggressive hitting team. There’s nothing soft about that lineup. Everybody can go deep at any given moment. So if you get in trouble, you can’t give those guys any extra outs. It’s just about making quality pitches in those situations and go from there.
“But there’s a couple mechanical things I’ve fixed up, cleaned up since then to put together some consistent outings. Hopefully they continue.”
Foltynewicz needed 104 pitches to get through five innings against Milwaukee in his last home start June 23. In his no-hit bid, Foltynewicz threw a career-high 119 pitches and was still hitting 95 mph in the ninth.
The Braves could have considered a “phantom” stint on the disabled list for Foltynewicz, a popular trend since the implementation of the 10-day DL to give pitchers extra rest, but Foltynewicz said a few days later that he’d recovered.
“A couple days after, I felt a little more sore in places I hadn’t really felt before, but they’re all taken care of now,” he said. “But, yeah, 119 pitches, I don’t think I’d thrown 105 this year, but my body felt good at that time. That 3-2 pitch with Olson, battled him. But a couple quick pitches, other than that, I felt pretty good. I probably would’ve went deeper if other things had happened. But the arm feels good now and I’m focused on Washington.”
With the trade deadline three weeks away, rumors circulate that the Braves could pursue help for the top of the rotation. But assistance may come internally through Foltynewicz’s development.
When the Braves acquired Foltynewicz from Houston in the Evan Gattis trade in 2015, he was regarded as a hard-throwing, high-upside arm.
He has shown flashes but his recent outings provide more hope than ever.
Since May 12, Foltynewicz has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of 10 starts. He’s allowed one or none in six of them.
He’s recorded nine and eight strikeouts in his past two starts, respectively.
Foltynewicz has 3.83 ERA with a team-leading 76 strikeouts over 87 innings. His fastball has averaged 94.5 mph and his control has been a bit sporadic, his 30 walks ranking 34th in the majors. The continued progress of his strikeout-to-walk ratio will determine his ceiling.
But for now, the Braves would take an encore of his previous three outings when they land in D.C.
“It’s a huge series,” Foltynewicz said. “We knew this going out to the West Coast, you know, that the week and a half leading up to it was going to be huge.
“Even if we can split this series, it’s going to be huge. Obviously we want to win all of them, but even to split, stay with them, all the wildcard stuff . ... It’s going to be a fun series.”