Atlanta Braves: Mike Foltynewicz makes case to be in postseason rotation

After Mike Foltynewicz’ brilliant start on Monday, you have to consider him as being part of the Atlanta Braves postseason rotation.

A lot of the talk about the Atlanta Braves postseason rotation has revolved around Dallas Keuchel, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Julio Teheran.

There hasn’t been a lot of mention about Mike Foltynewicz.

But his start on Monday night reminds us just how dominant he can be when he’s on.

No one has ever questioned the stuff for Folty, only his command of that stuff and his mound presence.

Folty often gets visibly frustrated on the mound and then that tends to bleed into his performance.

On Monday he was in control the entire time as he gave up just 1 earned run (a solo home run) on 3 hits with zero walks and 7 strikeouts over 7 innings on 101 pitches.

This came after he threw 5 scoreless innings against Toronto allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks, but he had to be lifted early because of dehydration on a hot Atlanta night.

Folty has now won his past four decisions and the Atlanta Braves have won the last 10 games that he’s started.

The Atlanta Braves are averaging 8.1 runs per game in those 10 starts, so he’s had plenty of run support. And in seven of those starts the Braves have scored at least 7 runs.

But Folty has been really good lately giving up 2 earned runs or less in his last five starts.

However, the problem with Folty is that he doesn’t consistently go deep into games.

Since his return from Gwinnett he’s made it through six innings in just three of his seven starts — two times he failed to get through five innings.

When you compare that to Julio Teheran, who he is probably battling for that fourth spot in the postseason rotation, he’s gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts.

In the postseason you not only want somebody that’s going to give you quality innings, but somebody that’s going to take you deep into the game — especially with how vulnerable bullpens have been this year.

I still think Folty’s best role in the postseason this year for the Atlanta Braves is as a reliever. He has the stuff to be an elite reliever who could give you multiple innings.

Either that or if we have a starter who can only go four or five, Folty can come in and keep the team in the game for three or four innings.

Folty will still play a big role in the pitching staff come postseason time, but it’s still unclear if it will be as a starter or reliever.

If he can finish the season with a couple of more starts like he had Monday night, he could force his way into the postseason rotation.