Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz still has a lot to prove. After all, he’s only 24 years old with only 25 major-league starts to his credit.
Still, Foltynewicz seems to be gaining momentum since returning from the disabled list June 30. He dominated the Rockies in his last start and, as he prepared for a rematch with the Rockies in Denver on Thursday, Foltynewicz said he’s shown enough progress that cautiously asserts that he’s turned a corner.
“A little bit,” Foltynewicz said. “There’s always room to grow and learn and get better, which I think I’m doing. You can’t get too big headed or anything. Just keep humble and keep pitching the way you can and get guys out.”
Foltynewicz held the Rockies to three runs over seven innings Sunday, with two of those runs charged to Foltynewicz after he departed. Two turns back Foltynewicz pitched seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts at the White Sox.
There have been tangible signs of progress for Foltynewicz from last season, his first as a starter. He has significantly decreased his walk rate while increasing his strikeout ratio, which is key to consistent pitching. Foltynewicz’s ground-ball rate is up, too.
The next step for Foltynewicz is to go deeper in games. He’s pitched as many as six innings just three times in nine starts, not counting a three-inning outing against the Marlins on June 30 that was shortened by a rain delay.
“That’s the main goal every time is to get deep into the ballgame and do what you can to give your team a best chance to win,” he said. “The last two starts I’ve done that and hopefully I can continue that streak.”
