Atlanta Braves: Can Mike Foltynewicz repeat his success from game 2?

It will be nearly impossible to reproduce such a masterpiece, but if anyone can do it with the series on the line, perhaps it’s the Atlanta Braves top starter from last year.

I know a lot has happened in the last three days, but let me remind you of what Mike Foltynewicz did last Friday for the Atlanta Braves, in Game 2 of this exciting — yet very stressful — NLDS.

Faced with quickly becoming two games behind in the division series and soon to leave the friendly confines of SunTrust Park, Folty put together one of the best postseason starts by a Braves’ starter in my lifetime —seven innings of pure domination.

His final line: 7 innings, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts

Yes, that final line is impressive, but it was nowhere near the best part of Folty’s incredible outing. No, it was how he produced that pitching line and what he used to achieve it.

First a little backstory; Almost five months ago, I wrote a profile piece on Folty that was filled to the brim with concerns regarding his slider — titled How Concerning is Mike Foltynewicz Poor Start to 2019?

I referenced his 2018 slider numbers, a season in which opposing batters hit just .111 and slugged .186, you know… when the offering was a real weapon for him.

Unfortunately, in Folty’s first several starts of the 2019 season, his slider was a problem.

Folty’s first five outings (April 27 – May 19) were horrendous. He went 0-3 and labored to a 6.91 ERA with an even worse 7.71 FIP. But that’s not even the worst part.

In those first 27.1 innings pitched, the 2018 superstar allowed 10 home runs (or 3.29 per nine innings!).

The main culprit…? That dangerous slider that allowed Folty to become a force in 2018… was failing him.

Folty’s first five starts (slider results): .314 BA, .449 wOBA, .800 SLG%, 88.5 MPH avg. exit velocity.

I don’t really have to tell you what happened next. We know that he spent some time in Gwinnett and then ultimately found his way back.

A lot of the issues with that slider had to do with the characteristics and makeup of the pitch.

He lowered his release point both vertically and horizontally, while increasing the spin of the offering, which in turn made the pitch crisper and more effective (I won’t bore you with the specifics… just check out his page on Baseball Savant).

Back to Game 2: On Friday, Folty knew that he had to pitch the game of his life — the team depended on it.

Armed with a much improved slider, Folty leaned on his ol’ pal and rode the pitch all the way to the end.

Of his 81 pitches in that start, Folty went to his slider 36 times, almost twice as much as he threw his second-most used pitch (2-seam fastball).

Out of his 36 sliders, only five were put in play by the St. Louis Cardinals hitters, six fouled away, six called for a strike, and 10 swung and missed at.

The Cardinals’ lefty hitters were getting abused with sliders at their back foot while righties assumed they had a perfectly hittable strike… only for it to zip and tail down and away — it wasn’t fair.

There’s no doubt that Folty will have to do this again, as once again the Atlanta Braves are on the brink of extinction and facing elimination. It’s going to be tougher this time, though.

That dominant game 2 outing might’ve taken the Redbirds’ hitters by surprise, but this is big league baseball… they won’t look like fools twice in the same series. Nope, no way.

This means Folty will have to be even more deliberate with his attack and not only keep hitters off balance with his slide piece, but also something else.

The Atlanta Braves’ emotional right hander needs to be both unpredictable and unhittable on Wednesday evening.

Do you think he can do it? Or was that game 2 masterpiece by Folty a one-hit wonder from him, never to be repeated in this series? Let us know in the comments below.