Three takeaways: Atlanta Braves, Mike Foltynewicz hammered by Cardinals

The Atlanta Braves were pummeled by the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night, 14-3. And Mike Foltynewicz had another terrible outing.

Why don’t we pretend like this one never happened for the Atlanta Braves?

In my series preview, I said this was the game to be worried about because Mike Foltynewicz has been struggling (to say the least) and the Cardinals have had significant success off the right-hander.

I was right, unfortunately.

Foltynewicz was hammered for eight earned runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings.

Marcel Ozuna got the party started early with a three-run home run in the first inning, then Yadier Molina and Dexter Fowler also got in on the fun with bombs off Foltynewicz.

More on Foltynewicz later, but something needs to happen here.

Jesse Biddle was recalled Tuesday and Jerry Blevins was designated for assignment in a move that, in an understatement, is baffling.

Blevins had one bad outing in Los Angeles, but other than that had allowed no earned runs in 2.1 innings.

Biddle allowed hits to five of the nine batters he faced in his last rehab assignment and followed that up with three earned runs allowed in 0.1 innings Tuesday night.

Johnny Venters, too, gave up three earned runs and then mercifully the game ended.

Offensively, the Braves managed only three hits.

Here are three takeaways from a lousy game:

Ender injured…Riley next?

Ender Inciarte left tonight’s game with what was described as back stiffness and is listed as day-to-day.

Who knows if IL time will be needed for Inciarte, but if he does head to the injured list, then fans will be clamoring for top prospect Austin Riley.

Riley, who hit a grand slam Tuesday night for Gwinnett, has 15 home runs in 36 games, but has only played six games in left field.

As much as it will disappoint the fan base (me included), it seems more likely that Adam Duvall gets called up if Inciarte is out for any period of time.

Duvall has played well in Triple-A this season, batting .286, while hitting 11 home runs.

It’s not the sexy choice, but at this time, it’s the one that probably makes the most since.

(UPDATE: Riley has been promoted and Ender is going on the IL)

Back to Biddle and Venters

I’m sure we all remember the infatuation with Sam Freeman last year and how that often times, that did not go well for the Atlanta Braves.

It seems like we’re in the same situation with Jesse Biddle.

Before being sent to the injured list, Biddle was a mess with his control as he walked eight batters over his final 2.2 innings.

He appeared to have righted the ship during his rehab assignment (before his final one), but then Tuesday night showed the same issues.

Then you add Johnny Venters, who has an ERA over 20 and the Atlanta Braves don’t have a situational lefty who can get anybody out, nevertheless a left-handed batter.

From the right side, there are some options with Jacob Webb, Luke Jackson, and Josh Tomlin, but the left side leaves a lot to be desired.

What to do with Folty?

That’s now back-to-back starts where Mike Foltynewicz has not only struggled, but gotten the daylights beaten out of him.

Mark Bowman mentioned on Twitter that the four-seam and two-seam fastball velocities were still down.

The slider is still very flat, too.

So, what’s next?

Your guess is as good as mine, but at the very least he needs to go to Triple-A to maybe get some things figured out.

I am trying to not think about the idea of Foltynewicz being out for a long time, but the prospect of that happening grows by the start.

Thankfully Mike Soroka goes on Wednesday. He’ll face off against Michael Wacha.