As Soroka goes on IL, Cubs plot next move to bolster pitching
The Cubs made the expected roster move before Tuesday's game, placing newly-acquired pitcher Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, while calling up reliever Nate Pearson from Iowa.
The next move to bolster the pitching staff remains to be seen. Ben Brown could return to being a starter. He took over Monday when Soroka had to leave after two innings, and allowed just 1 bad-luck run in 5 innings pitched.
Javier Assad (Wednesday) and Jameson Taillon (Friday) are both set to make their second rehab starts with Iowa this week and should be ready to return soon. There are also two off days ahead (Thursday and Monday), so the Cubs won't need a fifth starter, necessarily.
“I think Assad's a possibility after this start,” manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “He's pitching tomorrow, we need to get him through that. He needs to be on the mound more still. I think that's important, just to be fair to him, to really be in competition more. I think he becomes a possibility.”
With Brown, Assad and Taillon, the Cubs should have seven capable starters available within a couple weeks.
Soroka had an MRI exam in late July, before he was traded, to see if there was anything wrong with his right shoulder, since he had been experiencing a drop in velocity.
The Cubs were aware of this and decided it was worth the risk. They sent their No. 13- and 14-ranked prospects, Ronny Cruz and Christian Franklin, to Washington in the deal.
“We obviously talked through that extensively,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “We felt like given the market, given the asking price and all those different things, we felt like it was a good bet to make. Ultimately he came out of the game last night and right now it's not looking like a good bet.”
Soroka has never been a hard thrower by modern MLB standards. The slurve is his most effective pitch. In his first start for the Nationals this year, his four-seam fastball averaged 94.1 miles per hour, according to StatCast, which would have been a career-best over a full season.
In his final start for Washington on July 29, he worked 3 ⅓ innings and the four-seam had dropped to 91.4 mph. In the two innings Soroka pitched Monday for the Cubs, it was 90.8.
“We spent a lot of time on that,” Hoyer said. “Earlier, he was sitting on a much higher velocity. That risk profile was known. We decided, given the asking price, and given that we felt he was a notch above some of the other guys we were talking about, in terms of talent and development opportunities — we felt like it was the right risk.
“Obviously disappointed. We did a lot of due diligence, a ton of research. If it doesn't work out, it's on me. That's the job.”
Soroka had another MRI exam Tuesday and the Cubs were still waiting for the diagnosis to come back, as of pregame. It's possible Soroka could return from the IL and help the team this season.
Hoyer also admitted correcting an earlier error by adding utility player Willi Castro from Minnesota. Castro started in right field Tuesday, his fourth different position since joining the Cubs. His presence can help give the regulars some days off late in the season.
“I don't think I did a good job building the bench in the offseason,” Hoyer said. “It is a hot summer, it's a long season.”