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Atlanta Braves place ace pitcher Mike Foltynewicz on 10-day DL

It's too early to know whether Foltynewicz's DL stint (triceps issue) represents a precautionary measure ... or prelude to more substantive arm worries.

ATLANTA—Good news coming in, bad news coming out.

On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves quietly celebrated the sight of rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) running the bases in a private workout. They also returned pitcher Julio Teheran to the active roster (jammed thumb).

A few hours later, though, the club executed the deflating task of putting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz on the 10-day disabled list.

It's too early to know whether Foltynewicz's DL stint (triceps issue) represents a precautionary measure ... or prelude to more substantive arm worries.

In his Tuesday start, Foltynewicz was removed after five incident-free innings, upon notifying Braves pitching coach Chuck Hernandez of arm discomfort, which apparently traces back to the right-hander's June 6 start vs. the Padres.

"I kind of had this tightness after my last start, really. We've been working it out," Foltynewicz told local reporters on Tuesday. "There were a couple times in the fourth and fifth (innings) when I was kind of tweaking my mechanics, and I had to get through it, even though it wasn't really sore."

In some cases with pitchers, triceps injuries become a precursor to elbow problems, sometimes of the major variety.

The Braves (40-29, 1 1/2-game lead) may be stacked with solid starting pitching, both in the major and minor leagues; but an extended-time Foltynewicz absence could hinder Atlanta's chances of winning the National League East title.

Through mid-June, the 26-year-old pitcher makes a great case for being the Braves' go-to ace:

**Foltynewicz's seasonal rates for ERA (2.16), K/BB (2.84) and K/9 (10.8) are elite-level class.

**The Minooka, Ill. native owns a top-12 FIP among major-league starting pitchers (2.97).

**And of his 14 seasonal starts, Foltynewicz has absurdly notched 13 outings of two or fewer runs allowed.

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