Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz has been designated for assignment following a brutal start on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Coming off a brutal loss on Monday, Braves manager Brian Snitker announced the club would DFA its 2018 All-Star pitcher after another disastrous start on the mound.
Atlanta Braves DFA All-Star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz
Foltynewicz has experienced a rollercoaster career since he made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Houston Astros. After a rough first season in Houston, recording a 5.30 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 18.2 innings, he was shipped to the Braves in January 2015.
Things didn’t get much easier for the young righty upon landing in Atlanta. While he made 15 starts and three relief appearances in 2015, he posted a 5.71 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP in 86.2 innings.
Foltynewicz showed improvement the following year, cutting his ERA down to 4.31 and showed significantly improved command. It unraveled again in 2017 with a 4.79 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 154 innings.
Suddenly, it all came together for Foltynewicz in 2018. He emerged as the ace of Atlanta’s rotation, earning a trip to his first All-Star Game and utterly dominating the entire year. When the season came to a close, Foltynewicz held a sparkling 2.85 ERA and 1.08WHIP with a 202-68 K-BB ratio across 183 innings.
Coming off a breakout campaign, the Braves hoped Foltynewicz would be an integral part of their rotation and carry them into the postseason. Instead, he posted a 4.54 ERA across 21 starts and was even sent down to the minors for 51.1 innings.
Atlanta clearly had enough after his latest brutal start on Monday. He only lasted 3.1 innings, giving up four walks and six earned runs before getting pulled. It didn’t take long before the 28-year-old learned from Snitker that his days in Atlanta were over.
Given Foltynewicz’s experience and durability, it’s a near certainty that he’ll be claimed on waivers. Hopefully, a fresh start could be just what he needs to turn his career around.