Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz left game with a cut on his finger

A sweep would have been huge momentum build for the Braves…but…

Entering the final game of the three game series with the Washington Nationals, the Atlanta Braves sat at 66-78 for the 2017 season.  They won four straight games and six of their last seven heading into tonight.  A sweep of the Nationals would have been lovely.  But…

The Braves made the Nats starting pitcher, Tanner Roark, look like a flippin’ 10-time Cy Young winner on Thursday night.  Roark went six — five incredibly strong — innings, giving up only four hits, one walk and two runs.  He also totaled seven strikeouts.  In the top of the 6th inning was where the Braves did their damage to Roark.

Atlanta scored both their runs in the 6th inning and had three hits that inning.  The Braves were also hitless through the 5th and two outs — Johan Camargo singled to break up the no-no.  The only other base runner for the Braves was Freddie Freeman in the 1st inning when he got walked.

Mike Foltynewicz started on the mound for the Braves on Thursday, but didn’t have his best stuff and had to exit the game early due to a cut on his middle finger.

Folty lasted just four innings, giving up four hits, three runs, one walk and had three strikeouts.  Following the game, the Braves twitter sent this out…

This in kind of a strange injury for the 25-year-old starting pitcher.  It was kind of unknown why Folty was exiting the game, even the broadcast didn’t pick up on it.  Folty didn’t show signs while on the mound that I picked up on.  It’s also strange that the Braves are calling it a “cut”.

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What’s the “cut”?  Is it like a paper cut?  Is it from the baseball stitches?  It’s probably not a blister because they would have called it that.  Where’d this mysterious cut come from?

Folty has had a pretty up and down 2017 season.  He shows signs of greatness and than other games he looks like he shouldn’t be in the big leagues.  Because of the great games, we still have high hopes for Folty and I think he could have a great year in 2018.

With only 17 games remaining in the 2017 season, will this put Folty out for the season?

Say the answer to that last question is no.  He’s lined up to get only two more starts this year…one against the Nationals and home and the other against the Mets.  Since the Braves have some young arms up in the majors, should they just let them have the chance to show what they’ve got?  I think so.

Sit Folty for the rest of the season.  I’m no doctor, but I’ve seen a cut on a finger before.  They suck and take a little while to heel.  A cut on your middle finger can’t feel good and will probably set him back on his throwing.

Folty told reporters following the game that the cut on his finger was “rubbing up the ball” and that he doesn’t know about his next start.  Yeah, go ahead and take an early vacation.

Next: Braves chop, box, Luiz Gohara first career win!

The Braves now take on the New York Mets at SunTrust Park in a three-game weekend series.  Get down to the field as they only have two more home weekend games left in 2017.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:35pm ET with Sean Newcomb taking the ball for the Braves and Rafael Montero taking the hill for the Mets.