The Atlanta Braves got an effective Mike Foltynewicz down the stretch after a miserable start to the season. Now, they’ll need Folty to take a big step forward in 2020 after fighting to bounce back.

Mike Foltynewicz was the main acquisition – and the lone remaining acquisition – from the 2015 trade that sent (then) Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis to the Houston Astros.

Two other prospects were involved in that deal: Rio Ruiz is now with the Baltimore Orioles, and pitcher Andrew Thurman was released after reaching AA Mississippi with the Atlanta Braves.

Foltynewicz has become a fan favorite and has been a solid pitcher for the Braves. He tantalized fans with a break out 2018 season that saw him make his first All-Star team, marking him as one of the best pitchers in the National League, but struggled to duplicate that same success in 2019.

The 28-year-old righty has always shown the flashes of brilliance that stood tall during the 2018 season.

For example, on June 30, 2017, Folty took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on the road against the Oakland A’s. He gave up a home run to lead off the inning, but that was just one example of what the fiery and sometimes emotional hurler could do.

Here’s a look at his numbers during his time with the Atlanta Braves:

2015: 15 starts, 86.1 innings, 4-6 record, 5.71 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 3.0 BB/9

2016: 22 starts, 123.1 innings, 9-5 record, 4.31 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9

2017: 28 starts, 154 innings, 10-13 record, 4.79 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 3.4 BB/9

2018: 31 starts, 183 innings, 13-10 record, 2.85 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9

2019: 21 starts, 117 innings, 8-6 record, 4.54 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9

We’ll get more into a tumultuous 2019 season on the next slide, but outside of 2018, Folty’s numbers look pretty similar. What was different in 2018?

His slider was more effective. He got more swings and misses, giving up less contact. In 2018, he only gave up 6.4 hits per nine innings. His second best mark was 8.4 in last year.

It takes good sense — when Folty’s slider is dominant, he nears elite levels as a pitcher. When it’s not, it tends to hang and spin less, and Major League hitters don’t miss hanging sliders too often. MLB hitters can all hit fastballs, but for Folty, it’s all about the slider having that dive.