Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz is tentatively set to return from the 10-day disabled list Monday with a start in that night’s series opener against the Reds at SunTrust Park.
He’s been on the DL recovering from tightness in the right triceps, the major muscle in the upper back part of his pitching arm.
Foltynewicz last pitched June 13, working five scoreless innings in the latest in his string of impressive starts, and will return Monday without making a minor league rehab start, provided he feels good Saturday after throwing a side session in the bullpen Friday.
“He looked real good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said after watching the Friday afternoon session. “Now we’ll just have to wait till tomorrow. If he feels good tomorrow that’ll be a real good sign. But he looked really good right there. Felt good.”
Snitker said veteran Brandon McCarthy will start Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles. The Braves already had announced the starters for the first two games in that series, Sean Newcomb in Friday’s series opener and Julio Teheran on Saturday.
Foltynewicz and Newcomb have been the Braves’ best two starters this season, with “Folty” enjoying a breakthrough season that could get him consideration for an All-Star berth. He’s 5-4 with a 2.16 ERA, .199 opponents’ average and 94 strikeouts with 33 walks in 79 innings, ranking fourth among National League qualfiers in ERA, second in opponents’ average and tied for eighth in strikeouts before Friday.
Newcomb (.593) and Foltynewicz (.598) had the fourth- and fifth-lowest opponents’ OPS among NL starters before Friday.
In his last seven starts before going on the DL, Foltynewicz had a 0.86 ERA and .163 opponents’ average with 51 strikeouts, 16 walks and one homer allowed in 42 innings.
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