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Atlanta Braves Closer Jason Grilli and Mike Foltynewicz Are Returning To The Mound

By Jeff Schafer

Jun 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli (39) celebrates the final strike out as the Braves defeated the New York Mets 2-1 at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli (39) celebrates the final strike out as the Braves defeated the New York Mets 2-1 at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Braves closer, Jason Grilli, as well as starting pitcher, Mike Foltynewicz plan to make their 2016 Spring Training debuts on Thursday afternoon.  Grilli has been sidelined for seven months after rupturing his achilles on July 11, 2015.   Foltynewicz had one a ribs removed when he needed the surgery to repair a blockage near his rib that was affecting his pitching arm.

It’s great to see this news as these two pitchers will hopefully be a huge part of the 2016 Atlanta Braves.  Grilli is expected to go back to his closer role and Foltynewicz will be challenging for a spot in the Braves rotation.

BUT…

Will Grilli be the Braves full-time closer?  Even though he’ll have over two weeks to prepare for the regular season – which is April 4th for the Braves – the closer job may not be his.

Maybe this is Fredi being Fredi, but he’s hooked on this idea that his closer doesn’t have to always be the 9th inning guy and instead playing the match-ups.

“I feel that way now,” Gonzalez told AJC’s David O’Brien.  “That if the matchup comes up, say in the seventh innings there’s two or three guys the scouting reports say can’t hit high velocity, maybe we run Vizcaino against those guys.  Now that Kimbrel’s gone, that ninth inning is not automatic anymore.  It’s, let’s figure out who’s the best in the seventh because that might be the game.”

Is Fredi onto something here?  Is he trying to pull a Billy Bean and do something different?  Does he want Columbia Pictures to do a movie on him??  Or is this step twenty-two of Fredi being that manager?

We will soon find out, but fantasy baseball players are not liking this situation.

Make sure you tune in at 1:05 pm ET for both games as Foltynewicz takes the mound to start against the Washington Nationals.  He’ll most likely see some of the Nationals top players for this game since they’re playing at Space Coast Stadium (Nats ST facility).  Williams Perez starts in the other Braves game on Thursday as he takes on the Houston Astros.

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