Soroka feels healthy, but is there room on Cubs roster?
During the final month of the season, the Cubs will have some interesting decisions to make with pitching personnel.
Starter Jameson Taillon is expected to return from a left groin strain in another week or so. In addition, reliever Ryan Brasier (left groin strain) is heading out for a rehab assignment this weekend, while Michael Soroka (right shoulder strain) is just about ready to give it another shot.
Soroka threw a 34-pitch live batting practice before Tuesday's game, and talked about finding some of that missing velocity that plagued him midseason.
“The live went very well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Very encouraged by what we saw and how he felt. I think he's got to touch the mound a couple more times, whether it be lives or rehabs.”
After arriving in a trade with the Nationals, Soroka lasted just two innings in his Cubs debut on Aug. 4 before leaving with a shoulder issue. His four-seam fastball typically measures around 93 miles per hour, but averaged just 90.8 mph that day. It wasn't up to speed in his final starts for Washington, either, but he said Tuesday he's back up to speed.
“It's exciting to have it again,” Soroka said. “It's just about staying on top of the things that we did the last couple of weeks to open up some range of the shoulder again.”
Eventually, the Cubs will have to decide if Soroka can help for the stretch run.
“There's not really a weak link in this entire team,” he said. “It's a very deep team and it's something I want to be a part of. And I've got to compete, I've got to go show that I belong and that's fun. Competing is what brings out the best, and I'm excited to do that.”
Santana swings
Manager Craig Counsell essentially apologized for sending newcomer Carlos Santana to the plate Monday. He struck out on three pitches in the ninth inning.
“I regret having him take that at-bat yesterday, it probably wasn't fair,” Counsell said Tuesday. “He's been off for a little bit (since Aug. 25). So we've got to get him some work, just some days of baseball in.”
Around the horn
The Cubs signed veteran right-hander Joe Ross to a minor-league deal Monday. He posted a 5.12 ERA this season before being released by the Phillies. … With a game-tying home run in the eighth inning and walk-off single in the 10th, Carson Kelly became the first Cub to execute a late-game tying homer plus walk-off since Corey Patterson did it against Pittsburgh in 2004.