9:15am: The Braves have optioned Foltynewicz and recalled reliever Chad Sobotka, per a team announcement.
8:24am: Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz was the Braves’ No. 1 starter a year ago, when he seemingly broke out with a 2.85 ERA/3.37 FIP in 183 innings. Now, after a rough opening to 2019, he’ll be the Braves’ most accomplished starter in the minors. They’re optioning Foltynewicz to Triple-A Gwinnett, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. The club will call up a reliever to fill Foltynewicz’s roster spot Sunday, per David O’Brien of The Athletic.
Foltynewicz started the Braves’ win over the Nationals on Saturday, but he didn’t contribute to his team’s cause. The 27-year-old yielded eight earned runs on eight hits and two walks (with two strikeouts) over four innings. His ERA/FIP combo now sits at a bloated 6.37/6.10 across 59 1/3 frames this season. While Foltynewicz’s walk rate looks normal (3.03 per nine), the rest of his numbers have dipped as his ERA has skyrocketed. After fanning nearly 10 batters per nine a year ago, Foltynewicz’s K/9 is down to 7.58 – his worst since he began his Braves tenure in 2015. His groundball and fly ball figures have also gone in worrying directions, helping lead to a hefty 20.5 percent home run-to-FB rate.
It isn’t just homers haunting Foltynewicz, whose hard-hit rate against has gone up by more than 5 percent since 2018, according to Statcast. As a result, batters have managed a .373 weighted on-base average/.347 expected wOBA off him. A decline in velocity surely hasn’t helped matters. Foltynewicz led all NL starters in average fastball velo a year ago, clocking in at 96.4, but has seen the mean fall to 95.2 this season. With that in mind, it’s worth noting he began 2019 on the injured list because of elbow issues and didn’t debut until late April.
The Braves will now hope Foltynewicz can work his way back via the minors and return to help their cause down the stretch. Despite his struggles, the reigning NL East champions are charging toward another division title, boasting a 45-32 record and a 5 1/2-game lead over their nearest competitor. Standout rookie Mike Soroka has been their ace, while rotation mates Julio Teheran and Max Fried have logged decent production. The club also just added Dallas Keuchel, who made his season debut Friday. It’s unclear who will join them in Foltynewicz’s place, though Bowman names Triple-A righty Bryse Wilson as a possibility.
With Foltynewicz heading to Gwinnett for now, he’ll stop accruing big league service time. Having racked up 87 days of service this year, he’s at four years and 78 days for his career. As things stand, Foltynewicz is on track to reach free agency after the 2021 season. He’s on a somewhat pricey $5.48MM salary at the moment, making his demotion all the more notable.
he gone….man he’s been struggling
we really need some stability bad from any part of the pitching staff…outside of Soroka the offense can’t keep bailing out the starters or the bullpen. Especially in the playoffs, that’s not gonna work at all. You saw what happen when we faced a high-end started from, shutdown and we give up 10 runs to a bad Mets lineup
***starter deGrom…typing on the app sux, anyone notice it auto corrects after you hit submit sometimes?!
Soroka, Fried, and Teheran have all been plenty stable.
yeah, I guess I wanna be greedy with more Soroka type performances lol. Teheran has settled in nicely as the #3. Is he really the #3 now or are we just pushing him down in our heads as fans?!
Since May 22 (Anthony Swarzak’s debut), the Braves have MLB’s lowest bullpen ERA at 2.83. The next lowest is Cleveland at 3.61. Let that sink in moron.
that’s only a handful of weeks…
lol moron wow panties in a wad much?!….does that include the inherited runners the bullpen allowed to score registered to the starter?! Does that include Luke Jacksons literal 50% success rate of save opportunities, or a top 5 team in blown saves in all mlb as a whole?!…but I’ll just let that sink in before I hear a response haha
plus 20 of those games came against Giants, Marlins, Pirates, Mets and Tigers…but I’m still letting it sink in bwhahaha
when calling people names it only takes away from your credibility. This is suppose to be fun, just opinions and ideas.
The Braves have the 6th best relief ERA in all of baseball. After a terrible start, our pen is actually a strength now.
Folty is an absolute headcase. He has the worst mound presence of any pitcher that I’ve ever seen. Even if a missed spot ends in a good result, he pouts about missing the spot. The guy needs to see a shrink, not a pitching coach.
he rained that back in last year…he kinda is tho, remember when I got the cops called on him for blowing up at someone over an autograph at chick-fil-a smh
*het got the cops called not i lol
Good to see that you reigned that in.
yup exactly lol
for real? what is that story? he got that pissed that someone wanted his autograph?
ok ok….guess that’s been mentioned a time or two on here lol
While I cant speak of the chick Fil a incident, I ran into Folty and his family at a Starbucks during spring training in 2018. Really pleasant experience and even bought my friend and I coffee.
I’m not saying there’s a correlation. I’m just saying every year in his career that he’s bought me Starbucks, he’s been an All-Star. 😉
Now if we can just option Snitker with him.
Nothing wrong with the Braves manager.
Lol, sure. Friday night we have 1st and 2nd no out in the 9th and no bunt. Last night Freddie gets us back in the game down by 1, Snitker let’s Folty go back out to to face the top of their lineup, who had crushed him all night and face them for the 3rd time, leading to an 8-4 score. This is the same manager that still lets Luke Jackson close, the same manager that will walk an opposing team to load bases and bring in, the now departed, Jesse Biddle….yeah nothing wrong with manager.
Luke Jackson is the best option in that stinking bullpen right now. He has nothing to work with and does a great job to this point. And a man on first and 2nd no outs in the 9th isn’t always an automatic bunt. Who was up to bat? Would that person 100% be able to lay down a successful bunt? If not, why risk a potential double play with a bunt that’s easier to field? It’s not always about following what a book tells you to do in baseball. The situation at hand my not justify that
Swarzak is a far better option, right now. Sorry but I can’t fathom how anyone thinks Snitker is a good manager, let alone defends him. Greet bench coach maybe.
Braves bullpen actually leads the majors in ERA since mid May. Bullpen hasn’t been that bad in awhile, it’s the starting pitching. During this current run the team is on the starters have an era around 5.
Culberson was the PH. He bunts well. However, you have to like your chances for a base hit with Acuña (on deck) and Swanson (in the hole). So, I can see an argument for bunting and one for not bunting.
Shane Greene and Matt Boyd, … available from the toothless tigers.
And how many games (much less how many teams, since I’m sure the answer is zero) have you managed, effax ? Just because you don’t agree with what a highly respected baseball man decides is best for his team does not make Snitker wrong! How much money have you made managing a major league team? What makes you qualified?
Grow up RBI….because you agree with him and I don’t doesn’t make me wrong or you right. As I’ve said before, how anyone thinks Snitker is a good manager is beyond me and I can’t see anyone defending him. But it’s your opinion and I can have mine too.
That you don’t acknowledge someone else’s opinion or point of view shows your limited baseball IQ.
Snitker may very well be highly respected and that respect is well deserved since he’s a career Braves man, there’s a reason he was with the Braves for almost 40 years and never got a chance to manage.
How many have you managed RBI, since you’re clearly the expert here?
Yeah Luke sure is the best option…just got the lead and here comes Luke lol
You must not watch the games only the score.
You must not have any baseball IQ, what a clueless rebuttal…”you must not watch the games….”
WaTcH tEh GaEmEz!!1!
Why? The team is killing it and that’s with mgmt refusing to address the brutal bullpen since he took over. Considering what’s given with him, he’s crushing it with this team.
Just stop. The team is 5.5 up with a pretty average to terrible at times pitching staff, yet it’s somehow the manager?
Thank you. Just think how good they’d be if our bullpen weren’t waiver wire rescues and woebegones?
No doubt. I keep saying this, but the free agent market this offseason was bullpen rich and we didn’t take a flier on anyone. We could have rebuilt the bullpen and it cost us hardly a dime.
Maybe but most of the free agent deals have already turned sour. Ottavino is one of the few actually performing to his contract. I can understand why they were reluctant but hard to believe they didn’t make any moves regardless of how confident they were in getting healthy guys back like O’Day, who is still a ways away.
Rosenthal or next pick up from the scrap pile…
**our***
Britton has been pretty solid, I think the Greg Holland signing by the diamondbacks was pretty good as well. I think the Dbacks gave him 3.5M for a year? If I recall he saved at least 2 of the 3 games when they swept us and has been pretty decent this year.
Years ago, most fans and even scouts through he would ultimately land in the bullpen. I still think that’s where his long term success is. The hard part is, we got a glimpse on how elite he can be as a starter, and that’s extremely hard to let go of. But if he can’t figure it out as a starter in AAA, then it’s time to either trade him or give him a bullpen assignment
And then they saw him kicking dirt every other pitch because things didn’t go his way and thought putting him in high leverage situations every night might not be good thing for him, the team, the clubhouse walls and the cooler that would inevitably need to be replaced when he leaves one up and in.
That emotion wouldn’t bother me if he would transform it from a toddler emotion to an amped up fire like a lot of closers have.
I’d like to see Guasman get a look in the pen.
Me too
could they option Freddie Freeman too that guy kills my Nats
Interesting. I thought the person cut coming from last nights game would be Rosenthal. That was absolutely brutal to watch, although the whole bullpen blew that.
I haven’t paid much attention to Folty before, but anytime he got any type of question call last night, he would cut eyes at the ump and literally pout on the rubber. it was odd.
He’s had temperament problems his whole career. He kept it in check mostly last season, but it’s gotten worse and worse this season.
He’s a headcase and I’m sick of it. He needs to see a sports psychologist.
Sounds like this would be a good project for COOP
His career has largely gone the way his mentality and emotional control in the game has gone. After the success he had last year, I could easily see how his delayed start, missing Opening Day, extra rehab starts, and lack of initial success could get into his head and snowball from there. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s the kind of dude who can reset mid-season.
Maybe he can channel that energy into an inning or two out of the bullpen and eventually take over the closer role for the rest of the season otherwise it’ll likely be a lost season for him.
Perfect Sobotka coming back up….if I’m not mistaken he has an era over 5 in just over 7 innings pitched?
oh lord…don’t we ever learn. Where’s all this rich pitching talent we keep hearing about, not a single one of those guys can’t come up?!
He’s done very well in AAA.
How negative can one person be? Just don’t watch your first place team if it’s that bad
As the article suggests, Wilson is the favorite for the spot. He’s pitched well of late including giving up no runs last night, but they may have Sobotka fill in for BP depth until Wilson’s turn comes around midweek. No reason to call Wilson up because he wouldn’t be available until then and it’d be a waste of a roster spot.
efax0977, with only 7 innings pitched one just mediocre outing can give a pitcher an era of over 5. For example if a pitcher has pitched only 1 inning for the season and given up 1 earned run then his era is going to be 9. Swarzak had a kinda high era when he was acquired but he hadn’t pitched many innings and had only had 1 inning where he allowed a couple of earned runs.
No way???? You’re kidding right? So 7 innings pitched and a few runs could lead to an era of 5ish???? Are you serious?????????
You’re aloofness amazes me….the point was Sobotka struggled at the big league level and hasn’t done that well at AAA, one “mediocre” outing as you call it or not.
AAA isn’t gonna help the bone spurs go away.
Indeed….I recall the annual baseball preview issue from SI, one of the notes from the Braves preview…” Foltynewicz elbow is far more serious then the Braves want to admit.”
100%.
No one really even says anything about it.
There’s no reason for Folty to regress mentally other than the fact he’s not right and still trying to succeed with a short deck.
this is why sometimes one good year is just one good year.
Deep.
Bone spurs linger especially a high velocity pitcher like Folty. Dude needs to get well and I think because of the timing things were rushed.
Bone spurs don’t just go away and will usually get worse with continued pressure on them. The only way to get rid of them is with surgery. Folty had problems with it at times last year.
Too bad all this does is make Touki a likely candidate to replace him. Seriously, the guy sucks and reminds me of Wisler and Sims. Hopefully, they trade these fake prospects they everyone seems to rave about and actually get real good pitchers..
The problem is with the negativity you always carry the Braves could get deGrom or Scherzer and you would be ready to get rid of them after 1 bad start.
Folty has a spur in his elbow and until he decides to have it removed he’s not going to be worth a bag of peanuts. Those things can feel fine one day and feel like somebody has stuck a huge nail in you the next day even if you don’t do anything that can aggravate it. There’s no way possible that he’s pitched a single game this season without discomfort from it.
Give him one last chance to work things out in the minors as a starter then try him as a closer. The Braves have a lot of young starters coming up and Folty’s time is about up.
I also agree with those about his mound presence. The couple of times I watched him last year was brutal. He’d throw a ball and pout and do a whole big spin on the mound.
Making him a closer isn’t going to make his issues go away. Physically and emotionally he is not right. Putting him in the most stressful role in baseball won’t get a guy that kicks dirt every errant pitch/call to right the ship anymore than locking a guy 3 weeks sober in a bar.
Bringing up soboka doesn’t seem like the smart move lol
YUGE win and comeback last nite!
Acuna’s timing has gotten a little behind as he’s fouling off a ton of pitches so hopefully someone can relay that to him and he makes the little adjustment.
Trae Turner is fun to watch btw, talk about a pest and an animal at SS.
Let’s go take this series today boys!
Lots of comments about Braves needing to get bullpen help and moving prospects to make it happen and not addressing the issue in free agency. First, what free agent RPs were available this offseason that are killing it now. There are many of teams with buyers remorse for players that haven’t projected out as needed (See Rosenthal, David robertson etc). Secondly, many Braves fans were ready to exodus Riley for Realmuto. Do you make that trade now? Lastly, I laugh at people who post how the Braves need to package failed prospects (Allard, Gohara, Wilson, Newcombe, etc) to fill those needs. Other teams see that they have failed as well. If the Braves get a legit “ACE” or solid relief core, it is going to cost the likes of Pache, Waters, Anderson, or Wright. I believe AA and Snitker have done well with the youthfulness of this team. Due to posting a huge post, I will not discuss another impact that is overlooked….a juiced ball.
Shane Greene is da man.
how are allard, newcomb or wilsom failed prospects?
Thank God. maybe now we can start putting some of that “depth” to use
Trade some for Shane Greene with, perhaps, Matt Boyd.
Though Greene has looked the part in 29 games this year, 3 of the past 4 years he has produced an ERA north of 5. I tend to think this year is an anomaly. You don’t make that big of a turn at age 30.
Can someone explain to me how MF was able to be optioned down to AAA? How does he have any options left with so much service time? Did he volunteer and accept the assignment ? I would have thought he was out of options and would have needed to clear waivers to be demoted. Any information would be appreciated.
He obviously had options left
Div:
Dodgers
Cubs
Phillies
WC:
Brewers
Rockies
Lol, you wish on the Phillies.
Phillies just got swept by the marlins, the MARLINS.
Oh boy….Trevor Rosenthal will be the next one we pick off the scrap pile.
We picked up Swarzak and everyone scoffed. He has been phenomenal.
and how !!!
Markakis needs to be on the bench and if nothing else get him out of the 5 hole.
Lol the lineup as is is fine with me.
The lineup as a whole might be fine but he’s right, Markakis has really deteriorated into an issue.
Just because the offense together has been great doesn’t mean you can’t spot the weaknesses and address them. Markakis hasn’t panned out like last year (or anywhere close to last year).
He’s been respectable in June. May he was awful though.
Not sure what they should do really. Maybe platoon him with Inciarte when he comes back. Other than that there’s no obvious way to replace him unfortunately. Inciarte at least brings gold glove CF defense. I don’t think Waters or Pache are quite ready. Next year for sure though.
I was thinking move Acuna over to right field, maybe I am wrong? Seems if he could move from left to center he could go to right field. Also if I remember correctly, last year at Fenway Acuna played right field due to the green monster?
This is one of the reasons I agree with the poster before who called for Snitker to follow Folty to the minors….like Snitker or not I don’t think anyone can deny he is stubborn and change doesn’t come easy for him. I.E. refusing to move Markakis from the 5 spot, still going to Luke to close, sending Folty out last night to face the top of their order for a 3rd time.
Duvall is still in AAA as well. I’m not sure what he has done recently but he was pounding the ball not too long ago. The problem is that makes the lineup very RH heavy when Flowers catches. Kake batting 5 still is probably strictly due to 2-6 being able to go R, L, R, L, R
Get rid of Freddie Freemon. 1 for 5 today and no RBI. What a loser For those without a sense of humor, that was a joke.
So who was it that said Luke Jackson is our best option to close?
Agree. I normally support Snit, but I was telling at the TV in the tenth inning. Swarzak has closed before and is our best reliever right now. He needs to close and if he is still awesome, great and if not, he at least it is the right call as of now. If we trade for a closer, make Swarzak our setup man.
Swarzak has unfortunately not shown consistency in the closers role. Not saying Jackson has…Swarzak has proven to he at his beat as a setup man…I think they will look to trade for a closer as soon as teams are willing to trade them. They may just be hoping Minter goes on a run too and give the closers roll back to him.