Braves top starter Mike Foltynewicz won’t be ready for the start of the season, general manager Alex Anthopoulos revealed Monday (Twitter link, with video, from 680 The Fan). The 27-year-old was scratched from a start nearly two weeks ago due to elbow soreness.
“Folty’s the one guy that, building him up as a starter, he’s not going to be ready,” said Anthopoulos. “Feeling great. Throwing. We were just mapping out his throwing program this morning in terms of bullpens, live BPs — all those type of things. We’re just trying to figure out what point do we get him up to five innings?”
Anthopoulos wouldn’t forecast specifically how much time Foltynewicz would need to get ready, as he’s not yet progressed to throwing off a mound. The GM speculated on anywhere from one to three would-be turns through the rotation, though the situation remains fluid. Anthopoulos did acknowledge that had Foltynewicz been healthy, he’d likely have been given the Opening Day nod for the Braves.
With Foltynewicz out for the start of the year, the Braves will open with Julio Teheran, Sean Newcomb and Kevin Gausman locked into rotation spots. As Anthopoulos noted, the significant number of off-days the Braves have early in the year will allow them to work with only a four-man rotation early on, so there may only be one other spot up for grabs. Atlanta isn’t lacking for options to take that fourth spot in the rotation to open the year; Touki Toussaint, Kyle Wright, Max Fried and Bryse Wilson have all made multiple starts already this spring — Wright will make a third today — and could all conceivably get a look in that spot. Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that with Foltynewicz sidelined, Teheran or Newcomb (likely the former) will receive the actual Opening Day start.
Knee-jerk reaction time rather than trusting the youngins
Don’t worry. Braves are going to win the division. Things will be just fine.
3rd place doesn’t win you a division champs banner.
I just heard the reason were not signing players this offseason is so we could spend 140 million on this new spring training facility..u gotta be freaking kidding me. There better be future financial gains FOR THE BRAVES here and not someone’s pockets..
No big deal, next man up. He’ll be back soon enough, but no need to rush. One thing we aren’t short on and that’s starting pitching. Wish we had an elite one, like Folty flashed he could be last year, but better him healthy and at his norm.
His norm is as a number 4 starter.
He wasn’t last year. Was 2018 a huge aberration or can he really be a 2/3?
He certainly has been tough on my Phillies. The current roster has slashed .231/.315/.376 against him, and that’s with the addition of Harper.
baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitche…
The Braved do have a lot of other guys that can step in and take the ball. The trick will be figuring out which is the best guy.
thats ridiculous
Pitches like an ace vs. My mets bummer I like his stuff, hopefully hes back rather soon…
That’s definitely not true. Even as a Phillies fan, I’d say he is a solid #2
So you’re just going to ignore 2014-2017? He’s a solid #2 if he can keep up his 2018 output.
No, not ignoring at all. He’s trended up each year. It’s called player development, and it’s why folks are saying he’s a solid 2.
He was #10 in the Cy Young vote. Technically, top ten cy young SHOULD qualify you as being an ace among 15 teams….
Look for Bryce Harper to have a big game come opening day.
Trade Teheran.
Why?
He has been a bright spot this spring…
Yeah, but it doesn’t guarantee regular season success. I’ll even give you an example of a player my own team (Yankees) as proof: CC Sabathia went 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in spring training 2014, but in the regular season, he went 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA in 8 starts due to a degenerated right knee.
the reason why Teheran shows promise is that his fastball is hitting 91-93 consistently with late movement again.
My guess is Teheran is going to have a strong year
Never heard that before. Let the roller coaster begin. Only fitting he becomes the Opening Day starter to face Bryce against our rivals.
Please no! Harper owns Julio!
All these inury concerns and you still dont get why Teheran is valuable.
not now… looks like Teheran is going to have a rebound year, if Wright shows he’s ready, then trade him at the deadline
Just curious
I know Oakland and San Diego have their baseball radio stations on fm
Which teams are am vs fm
The Blue Jays are AM590
“Look! A butterfly!”
mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/02/14/braves-think-their-fa… Braves are not trying to win anyway so this does not matter.
Because Donaldson, McCann and Markakis were just filler
I mean…
You’re right! I mean Harper was a MVP in 2015. I wonder who won the AL MVP that year
Josh Donaldson was the AL MVP in 2015.
Braves are officially a big market team. They have the revenue for a $ 220 million payroll. Won’t spent it to win. sports.yahoo.com/braves-rolling-money-aren-t-16054…
#fireAA #boycottbraves – Suffered through the tanking and still no effort to win. Only have 4 major league bats on the roster.
4 major league bats? I know Griffin public schools aren’t the best, and the Braves aren’t the 27 Yankees, but how do you come up with that math?
I am boycotting as well. I will not show up at the games this year and allow these owners to get filthy rich and not put back into the team. I’m not saying spend up to the luxury tax but 2 more players were definitely doable.
And what 2 players are the ones separating you from enjoying the comforts of The Battery? Honestly, there are very few free agents worth the wine you’re bringing. Love it when people want you to spend just to spend. There’s no trophy for winning the offseason. Let Philly have their Bryce and his Fresh Prince walk-up tunes — they paid richly for it.
Overpaying for a declining Donaldson while 3 other teams in the division did many things to get better doesn’t excite you?
Declining from the 2nd best WAR in MLB (behind Trout) for 3 years — yeah, I’ll take that.
Yes in his prime he was very good. Problem is he isn’t in it anymore
If he’s not, slot in Camargo. If he is, we have one of the best players in the league for 1 season – with no future commitments past 2019 – and we lost no draft picks in the process. Pretty good gamble if you ask me.
Thing about that is the Braves won last year. They shouldn’t be content with simply being ahead of schedule. The rest of the division was extremely aggressive while they were not. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Braves finished 4th
You can’t say the Braves should spend money. The commenters on this site will crucify you. The team didn’t do nearly enough to reclaim the division title in my opinion. But every single comment is how they shouldn’t spend money. The delusional fan just wants to put more money into Liberty Media. The payroll has raised 31 million dollars in 15 years. and has actually gone down 13 million since opening the Suntrust Park. It’s comical. They spent their offseason signing 35 year olds to 1 year deals and not bettering themselves for 2020 and beyond. They have 2 players on the books after the end of the 19’ season! 2 players. Mention signing anyone and the Braves fans on this site will just say how set they are for the future. There has been 1 semi dynasty in the past 20 years. You build for a 3-4 year window, not forever. This was the offseason to build a monster lineup. They chose 2 broken down players and a 35 year old coming off his best season. It’ll be the same story next year and the year after. I’m pissed off from this offseason. Braves finish fourth and are left with a stupid ass dumbfounded look on their face while the Mets, Nationals and Phillies look down at us.
Donaldson looked pretty good at the end of last year. In 2017 Donaldson had an OPS of 944. Doesnt sound like a whole lot of decline.
Why would you fire the GM when it’s Liberty Media that has handcuffed the Braves. McGuirk even said himself that the goal is to pay off the debt, not improve the quality on the field. AA can’t spend what he’s not got.
Lol
Acuna, Freeman, Donaldson. My bad only 3. They have $ 100 million they could spend on payroll and still be below 50% of revenue. That is Harper, Machado, Kimbrel and $ 30 million to spare. Could have traded Albies for Realmuto. Trade Swanson for a reliever. Make an effort to win. Current effort by ownership / AA is PATHETIC.
And yet they won the division with these ‘bums’ last year. The nerve! We all know a bigger payroll = a better team. The highest payroll always wins the Series.
They won in a very weak division that had the Nats floundering for half the season.
I wouldnt say the east was the strongest division but it was hardly weak. the phils were in it most of the season and thats kept making pushes, the problem for east teams was that the Braves beat up on all them all year.
To be fair, most likely, the same cast of characters doesn’t get it done this year. The East is going to be tough on all participants, especially the marlins. They will are going to feel like a punching bag, with 4 strong teams to whoop them.
As a non braves fan, I’m glad they didn’t really make win now moves, but I think it’s fair to say the Nats are the top team in the east, followed by PHI,ATL, and the NYM. Though It’s going to be close between those teams, you can make an argument for any of them.
Trade Albies? that would be a lateral move
They would’ve had to if they got Realmuto.
So glad you aren’t in charge.
If we all hope really hard, they might be able to get the payroll under 100 million. I know it’s every Braves fan on this sites dream to have the lowest payroll possible. Unfortunately some of these players are going to get arb raises in the near future, so as long as we don’t sign or trade for anyone, Freeman and Inciarte will be the only players owed any money in 2020. Just keep lowering the payroll after the new stadium and it’ll make all the fans happy. It’s comical if it wasn’t so depressing.
give the A’s a run for their money at 60 million
Yay we have an injury prone Harper who hasn’t been close in the MVP race in 4 years, a declining Kimbrel to anchor the pen…. well at least we got Machado! And in a couple years, those two will be playing every position on the field themselves! …. you really haven’t a clue man.
GriffinGA I’m glad that you are not GM. Your trade ideas are the pathetic thing in this thread.
Braves have the $$$ – sports.yahoo.com/braves-rolling-money-aren-t-16054…
It’s sad. Owners today really make you appreciate the guys like Mike Ilitch who truly wanted to see their teams win.
@JDGoat And what did Ilitch’s big spending get him? Zero championships to show for it. He’s the reason they have that ugly Miguel Cabrera contract still on their payroll. Don’t forget the disaster that is the Jordan Zimmerman contract, The Prince Fielder contract.
All those young guys are going to be interchangeable all year and that is the Braves plan at this point as well. It will be hard to be fantasy owners of them but fun to watch if you are a fan
Yup, finally benefiting from the AAA team being right down the road, which should help keep the guys getting innings.
Braves have revenue of $ 442 million and are spending less than $ 120 million on the on-field product. Braves are a big market team. Owners are feeding the BS that they are still mid-market. What happened to we can shop on any aisle?
Every isle at Dollar General. In their defense, they didn’t specify the store the isle would be down.
Who would you want them to spend on? Seriously? They’re not the government meeting year-end budget requirements taking trips to the Bahamas with leftover discretionary funds. Honestly: who?
This free agent class was a big disappointment from overhype over the years. Next years, even without Arenado (extension), should be much better. If they have the same needs then and still don’t spend – then by all means, become a Phillies Phan.
I for one am glad they didnt spend just to spend. Lowe, Upton, uggla, i know Im missing someone, trades for McLouth, Bourne, Texiera.
The payroll shouldn’t of gone down. 2 years into a new stadium and the reigning NL East Champions. Liberty Media said they are spending all the money on the battery outside the ballpark. Not trying to field the best team imaginable in 2019. They are in the bottom 1/3rd of baseball payrolls. That is insane to me. Out of the 10 teams in front of them 6 are in a complete rebuild. There is no justifiable reasoning that the Twins should have a higher payroll than the Braves. It just shouldn’t happen. Even if the Braves were to sign Harper or Machado they would be number 12, and 8 million over the league average payroll. I know you’re wanting a dynasty, but there is a 3-4 year window for competition. 1 of those years are done already. They have not done enough to put the best product on the field in 2019.
there wasn’t anything to risk big dollars long term on. plus if a lot of these young guys keep playing the way they have they will have a lot of salary to sign them early. as a Braves fan I am personally happy with not signing harper or machado to the contracts they got. not only that, but the only areas that needed an upgrade were pitching and catching. catching sure we could have signed someone , i would not have sent the farm over for realmuto though. pitching we could have overpayed for another #3/4 or seen what the young guys have in store.
people want to complain Braves arent doing anything yet all the prospects we’ve been waiting years for are finally here and now we dont want to see what they can do?
They didn’t have to make a play on the big names but could’ve been active. Brantley got a reasonable deal. Marwin Gonzalez got a reasonable deal. There were a ton of bullpen guys that got cheap contracts. They have a ton of minor league talent but wouldn’t make any trades. The effort to really improve the team was derailed by Liberty Media and their refusal to put a better product in the field because of “debt”.
Braves would have had to seriously up their offer to Brantley to get him to sign. You forget Texas has no state sales tax. Those things matter.
well apparently his elbow isnt sore enough to stay off the golf course!! his instagram has pictures of him and his son on the golf course just last week
Definitely not an issue since it’s not a structural problem
Remember the start of the season last year. The prognosticators said the Braves would be ready to compete for the championship in 2019. Well, 2019 is here.
Braves fans love it when the Braves win the division. No one even believes we should be trying to win a world series. If you are happy with the current team you have bought the BS – read here this is you. mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/02/14/braves-think-their-fa…
You have no life dude.
Right you are. Profits first and a solid 3rd or 4th place finish. No need or desire to win. Kimbrel and Kluber could change that.