ST. LOUIS -- The slider hasn't always been there for Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz. Now it's arguably the key to his breakout season.
"I could never throw it over 86, 85 [mph]," Foltynewicz said. "Then all of a sudden -- I don't know if it was [2016], last year or [2015[ -- I started throwing it a little harder, 88-89. I can throw it harder, now I've got to control it. And I think I can throw the slider for strikes, throw it in a 3-2 count, strike some guys out. It's just having confidence in that pitch.