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Atlanta Braves’ Top 5 Performers of April

By Savannah McCoy

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Dansby Swanson #7, Ryan Flaherty #27 and Charlie Culberson #16 after hitting a three-run homer in the ninth inning for a 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on March 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Dansby Swanson #7, Ryan Flaherty #27 and Charlie Culberson #16 after hitting a three-run homer in the ninth inning for a 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on March 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 31: Starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 31, 2017, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 31: Starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 31, 2017, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

5. Mike Foltynewicz

An offseason highlighted by a ridiculous arbitration battle provided Mike Foltynewicz with something to prove to the Braves.

In April he did just that. A 2.53 ERA led the Braves starting rotation. When he pitched himself into trouble, he was able to pitch himself out.

Where Braves pitchers starters have struggled to record strikeouts in previous seasons, Folty recorded 39 in his first 6 starts.

His best performances came against the Phillies and Nationals. In those games, he surrendered one run per game and walked two batters. He scattered three and four hits in each outing.

During the first month of the season, Foltynewicz was the staff’s most reliable starter. While Sean Newcomb and Julio Teheran have had individually better outings, Foltynewicz never surrendered more than two earned runs per outing all month, an impressive feat when home runs are looking at another record season.

Despite his good start, he has several steps to take before he can challenge Julio Teheran for the right to call himself the team’s number one starter. Folty has walked too many batters in the first month of the season to maintain his good start. High pitch counts have limited his outings to 4-6 inning outings.

Throwing consistent strikes could push him to have an even more impressive May.

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