Struggling Mike Foltynewicz Has All the Motivation He Needs After Braves Signed Dallas Keuchel

Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz hasn't had the season he was hoping for this year. An All-Star a season ago, Foltynewicz has regressed immensely this season. He's posted a 1-5 record with 5.89 ERA while allowing 15 home runs, second most in the National League, after fighting off injury during Spring Training.

The Braves needed to do something to address this growing concern, so they imported Dallas Keuchel to help bolster their rotation after he shed that pesky draft pick compensation. Not only will Keuchel bring some much-needed juice to the team, but his signing should be all the motivation Foltynewicz needs to get his act together.

Atlanta currently sits at 33-29 and second in the NL East, two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Their pitching has been a problem all year, and it needs to improve if they want to reach the postseason and make some noise once they get there.

They have a team ERA of 4.36, 15th in the MLB. Keuchel will certainly help that number decrease, but the team will need more than that. They need a motivated Foltynewicz to bounce back, which should be spurred on by a playoff-tested lefty breathing down his neck.

In the postseason, it's imperative that a team has at least two or three starting pitchers they can count on to pitch lights out. Throughout this season, the Braves have relied on rookie Mike Soroka, who's never pitched at that level, and really no one else (sorry, Julio Teheran, we don't trust you yet).

The former Cy Young winner should come in and produce right away, and the team will surely be counting on him as soon as they can get him on the mound. But if they want to make a run at the NL East title and topple the Phillies, they'll need Foltynewicz to step up and be the guy we saw make the All-Star game last season.