The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opener in doubt for Folty
Right-hander wants to make sure elbow is healthy for season.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Opening day for the Braves is 27 days away. At Philadelphia, no less, where the Phillies will be showing off all their new toys, including the Bryce Harper Super-Earner action figure.
The question is: Will Mike Foltynewicz be on the mound for this mega moment?
Sc ratched from his Friday spring start as a precaution against elbow soreness, Foltynewicz, once favored to be the Braves’ opening day starter, is now something of a question mark.
Friday morning he sounded upbeat about the progress made on that tender right elbow, tweaked Sunday during his first start of the spring. “They’ve been working on me the last few days, and it’s feeling a lot better. It’s nothing I’m worried about,” he said. “Catch it early and go from there.”
“Nothing to worry about,” he reiterated.
Foltynewicz, an All-Star a year ago, and the Braves pitcher with the most wins in 2018 (13-10), said he became accustomed to dealing with minor elbow discom-
fort last season. It was much the same sensation he felt in West Palm Beach against Houston on Sunday, he said, while allowing one unearned run over two innings.
He didn’t like what he felt, nor did he like what he saw when looking at the pitch speed display in the outfield.
“I didn’t like turning around in the second inning seeing 89-90 (mph), when you know where you need to be,” he said. “Still getting guys out, but you still want to feel good and be where you’re supposed to be.”
Foltynewicz said there was no set timetable yet for his return to normal spring prep. But any prolonged delay would cast doubt on his availability for opening day in Philadelphia on March 28.
When asked about where Foltynewicz might fit among the opening-day option, manager Brian Snitker said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re going to have to let this thing go for a couple more weeks before we start looking at that.”
Julio Teheran has been the Braves’ opening-day pitcher each of the past five seasons. He has gone 1-1 with three no decisions over that span, the Braves winning two of those five games. Teheran has pitched to a 2.74 ERA in those five starts.
Certainly, Foltynewicz would like to take the success he tasted a season ago and build upon it right from the beginning in 2019.
“To be that opening-day guy that means you’re the ace of that year. It’s a big responsibility, and you take huge pride in trying to go out there and be that No. 1 opening-day starter,” he said.
But, he added, “I want to put that in the back of my mind, get this elbow nipped in the bud and get it healthy and go from there. Which shouldn’t be a big deal at all. If things play out (being the opening-day starter) would be cool, but we got a few guys that could fill that spot.
“Opening day, second day, third day, so be it. I’ll just try to go out there and do my job and everything else will take care of itself.”