The Cubs placed Soroka on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to a right shoulder strain, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
The right-hander was removed from Monday's start against the Reds due to shoulder discomfort, with manager Craig Counsell saying after the game that an IL stint would be necessary. Soroka will be eligible to be reinstated Aug. 20, though it wouldn't be surprising if a longer absence is necessary given the nature of the injury.
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Cubs' Michael Soroka: Will require IL stint
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Monday's 3-2 loss that Soroka (shoulder) is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The club is presumably still in the process of running more tests on Soroka's shoulder, but the right-hander's injury is considered significant enough that he'll need to be shelved for at least two weeks. Acquired from the Nationals ahead of the trade deadline, Soroka lasted just two innings in his Cubs debut, striking out three while giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk before exiting with shoulder discomfort. Ben Brown tossed four innings of one-run ball in long relief and is likely the leading candidate to replace Soroka in the rotation.
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Cubs' Michael Soroka: Battling shoulder discomfort
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Soroka was removed after two innings in his start Monday against Cincinnati due to right shoulder discomfort, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Soroka can be considered day-to-day until the team has a chance to re-evaluate the right-hander over the next few days. Ben Brown, who took over for Soroka on Monday, would be a candidate to take Soroka's place in the rotation if he's unable to make his next start. Soroka struck out three and allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk over two frames in his Cubs debut.
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Cubs' Michael Soroka: Exits start early
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Soroka left his start Monday against the Reds due to an apparent injury, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. He allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out three over two innings prior to departing.
The team has yet to provide an update on Soroka, whose team debut was cut short after he tossed just 31 pitches over two frames. Ben Brown was called upon to work in long-relief option following Soroka's early exit.
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Cubs' Michael Soroka: Team debut set for Monday
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Soroka is slated to start Monday's game against the Reds at Wrigley Field.
After coming over from Washington in a deadline deal, Soroka will claim a spot in the back end of the Cubs rotation in place of right-hander Ben Brown, who appears to have been moved to the bullpen. Over his 16 starts with the Nationals this season, Soroka sported a 4.87 ERA, but his 1.13 WHIP, career-best 18.4 K-BB% and 4.05 xFIP all suggest that he pitched better than his ERA indicated.
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Cubs' Michael Soroka: Headed to Wrigleyville
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The Nationals traded Soroka to the Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for outfielder Christian Franklin and infielder Ronny Cruz, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Soroka hasn't found much success this season as a part of the Nationals' rotation, as he sports a 4.87 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 81.1 innings (16 starts), though his 4.11 FIP indicates he's fallen victim to a bit of bad luck. The 27-year-old righty will likely bolster the back end of the Cubs' rotation as they make their push for the postseason. Otherwise, Chicago may move him back into the bullpen to work as a long reliever.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Labors in abbreviated outing
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Soroka didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Astros, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out four.
Soroka struggled with efficiency Tuesday, running his pitch count up to 74 before his night concluded. Two of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the 27-year-old right-hander remains without a quality start in any of his past five outings. Soroka holds a rough 4.87 ERA across 81.1 frames, although his strong 1.13 WHIP and 87:24 K:BB are perhaps more indicative of the quality of his pitching. He'll remain a shaky fantasy option overall and is a prime candidate to be moved prior to the trade deadline.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Keeps Nats close Friday
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Soroka did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings in the loss to the Padres.
Soroka turned in a solid outing Friday, with the only damage coming on a second-inning sacrifice fly from Jake Cronenworth. However, a lack of offensive support from Washington's lineup once again left the right-hander without a chance at a win. Still, it was a step in the right direction for the 27-year-old, who has now allowed two or fewer runs in three of his last four starts. Soroka will carry a 5.10 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 77:21 K:BB into his next start, which is scheduled for Wednesday against the Reds.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Rebounds despite loss
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Soroka (3-7) took the loss Thursday against St. Louis, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Soroka allowed seven runs to the Red Sox in his previous start, making Thursday's outing a bounce-back effort. Still, the Nationals didn't offer much run support, leaving the 27-year-old with his fourth loss in six outings. Soroka will take a 5.35 ERA and a 74:19 K:BB over 63.1 innings into the All-Star break.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Fans 10 in no-decision
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Soroka didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Soroka kept the Dodgers scoreless through five innings and notched all 10 of his Ks before the sixth, but he was quickly bounced from the contest in the sixth frame. He allowed a ground-rule double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, loading the bases for Jose Ferrer, who served up a grand slam to Max Muncy. Soroka has posted seven or more Ks in three of his last four starts, owning a 4.03 ERA and a 31:8 K:BB across 22.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Angels next weekend.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Gets plenty of support in win
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Soroka (2-3) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings to earn the win Saturday over the Diamondbacks.
The Nationals put up 10 runs before Soroka threw a pitch, so he was able to work without much pressure. It wasn't all that effective of an outing, but he did enough to take care of business and earn his second win in the last three starts. This was the third start in a row in which he's pitched into the sixth inning. Soroka has a 5.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB over 31 innings through six starts this season.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Earns first win
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Soroka (1-2) earned the win against the Orioles on Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Soroka took advantage of an early lead, tossing four scoreless innings before allowing three runs across the fifth and sixth frames. The 27-year-old generated 10 whiffs in his longest outing of the season, though he was limited to only 82 pitches. He'll take a 5.95 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 23:4 KBB across 19.2 innings into a home matchup with the Giants next weekend.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Four innings in revenge game
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Soroka didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander made his big-league debut with Atlanta in 2018, but his first career start against his former club wasn't exactly a triumph as Soroka managed only six swinging strikes among 81 pitches (53 total strikes) before getting the hook with the score tied 2-2. In two starts since recovering from a biceps strain and returning to the Nats' rotation, Soroka has been tagged for six runs in nine innings with a 12:3 K:BB. He lines up to take the mound again this weekend on the road in Baltimore.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Fans eight in return to rotation
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Soroka (0-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Nationals fell 8-6 to the Guardians, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out eight.
Making his first start since March 31 after recovering from a bicep strain, Soroka blanked Cleveland through five frames before running out of gas in the sixth -- he put the first four batters aboard on two singles, a hit by pitch and a double prior to exiting, as part of an eight-run inning for the Guardians. On the bright side, Soroka generated an impressive 30 called or swinging strikes among his 78 pitches. The right-hander will look for a better result in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against Atlanta, the team he made his MLB debut with in 2018.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Returning Wednesday
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Soroka (biceps) will be activated from the injured list and start Wednesday against the Guardians, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Manager Dave Martinez said Soroka will claim the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation upon returning, which will force Brad Lord to move back to the bullpen. Soroka has been on the injured list since early April after suffering a biceps strain during his first start of the season. He has since made three rehab starts in the minors, most recently striking out 11 batters across five innings of one-run ball at Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Spectacular in latest rehab start
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Soroka (biceps) struck out 11 and allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks over five innings in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Rochester.
Soroka built up to 4.1 innings and 78 pitches in his second rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg last Sunday, but rather than bringing him back from the 15-day injured list for this weekend's series in Cincinnati, the Nationals instead opted to have the right-hander move up a level for a third rehab outing. The 27-year-old seemed to have answered any lingering questions about his readiness to join the big club with his dominant showing for Rochester, as his 11 punchouts on the night were backed by 17 swinging strikes over his 94 pitches. Assuming he remains on the standard four-day rest schedule he's been following during his rehab assignment, Soroka will likely come off the IL to make his next start for Washington in Wednesday's series finale versus the Guardians at Nationals Park.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: In line for another rehab start
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Soroka (biceps) is not listed among the Nationals' probable pitchers for this weekend's series in Cincinnati and is expected to make a third rehab start in the minors, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Soroka declared himself ready to go after he went 4.1 innings and threw 78 pitches in his second rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday. However, rather than bringing him back from the 15-day injured list this weekend, the Nationals will presumably ask him to make one more rehab start to increase his pitch count a bit. Barring a setback, Soroka should rejoin the Washington rotation next week. He's been out since late March due to a right biceps strain.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Next steps undetermined
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The Nationals haven't decided whether Soroka (biceps) will return from the 15-day injured list this week or make another rehab start, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Soroka believes he's ready to pitch with the big club after going 4.1 innings and throwing 78 pitches in his second rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday. However, manager Dave Martinez said the team could have Soroka make one more rehab start in order to get his pitch count up to 90. A decision on where Soroka's next start will take place should come within the next few days. The righty is working his way back from a biceps strain.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Builds up to 78 pitches
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Soroka (biceps) allowed two earned runs on four hits and a while striking out four over 4.1 innings during his rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday.
The right-hander built up to 78 pitches in his second rehab outing, though he didn't quite reach the goal of five innings. Even so, Soroka may be built up enough to make his next start with the Nationals, though he'll need to rejoin the big club to be evaluated before any decision is made. If cleared to return from the 15-day injured list, he's likely to pitch next weekend in Cincinnati.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Nearing rehab assignment
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Soroka (biceps) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Soroka has been out of action since late March due to a right biceps strain. He resumed his throwing program in a simulated game Wednesday, and barring any setbacks from his session Saturday, the 27-year-old right-hander should embark on a rehab assignment next week.
