Folty looks to continue recent success against Nationals

The Braves will be right back at it this afternoon with the Washington Nationals. On the mound for Atlanta will be the resurgent Mike Foltynewicz who is gunning for a postseason spot. His opponent will be the 27-year-old rookie Austin Voth.

Voth is sitting on 27 innings pitch this season with Washington and has been fairly mediocre in a starting role. Voth has one plus pitch (his slider), but everything else is average at best and his command is somewhat lacking as well. This has led to an ERA of 4.00 this season with peripheral stats well above that mark.

The Braves have seen Voth twice already this season and have scored four times off him in ten innings. Atlanta has been responsible for four of the five home runs he’s allowed this season and they’ve done all of this damage with a BABIP against Voth of just .161. Needless to say there should be some regression due.

The Nationals will be tasked with facing Mike Foltynewicz today after having a fun time with Mike Soroka last night. Folty has normalized since coming back from Gwinnett in early August. He’s really worked on his slider and that pitch has made him a completely different player.

Folty’s season ERA still sits at 5.00, but in his last four starts he has posted game scores of 74, 72 and 64 (along with a short start in Toronto that saw him give up two earned runs). He’s looked great of late and the Braves will certainly need him in order to inch ever closer to their second consecutive NL East crown.

If the Braves win today’s game it will move their NL East Magic Number down to just four which leaves a very good chance of clinching the division at home. If they sweep the series it will be just two, and the Braves start a series against Philly at home on Tuesday meaning that the team could clinch the East with the Phillies on the field for a second straight year. We shall see. First, they need to take this game today. Stay tuned.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 14, 4:05 PM EST

Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

TV: Fox Sports South

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Rock 100.5, Braves Radio Network