Atlanta Braves: Mike Foltynewicz Off to Nice Start

The Atlanta Braves may be off to a rough start but young flame thrower Mike Foltynewicz has been off to a fast start this season. Should fans be buying that Foltynewicz has turned a corner this season?

While Foltynewicz currently sits 5th in the Braves rotation he has been the most consistent of any of the Braves pitchers in the early going allowing runs but limiting the damage and keeping his team close. The biggest change has been his ability to pitch deeper into games and control his slider.

He has dangerously looked like a thrower and not a pitcher early in his career as of early this season that has changed. He has pitched well using all of his pitches and looking to get outs and not just throw his fastball past hitters.

There is not questioning if Foltynewicz has the ability to pitch it is if he has the mental game that it takes to be a starter every 5th day.  While it is far to early to jump to conclusions his early results have been good and done more to build confidence then at any other point in his career.

There are still worrisome trends of how many hits he gives up and how that it seems he cannot maintain momentum late into good starts. If that continues to be the case moving Foltynewicz to the Braves bullpen or exploring a trade could be options that the Braves should explore if his fast start cannot be maintained.

While trading a starter from a rotation that has R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon in it may not sound wise the Braves farm system will soon have plenty of arms ready to take both the veterans and Folty’s place.

Next: Braves Previewing the lineup

Trading Mike Foltynewicz off of a fast start to the season may not be a popular move among fans or one that the Braves will make but it is the right baseball move for a pitcher who is enjoying a fast start.