Michael Soroka was acquired from the Nationals at the trade deadline and made one start for the Cubs, Aug. 4 vs. the Reds. He threw two innings before leaving with a shoulder strain. Today, the Cubs reinstated Soroka from the 15-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the club optioned right-hander Ben Brown to Triple-A Iowa.
Soroka has a 4.86 ERA (45 earned runs in 83.1 innings) in 17 starts combined between the Nationals and Cubs this season. The righthander was acquired from Washington July
30 for minor-league outfielder Christian Franklin and minor-league infielder Ronny Cruz. He made one rehab appearance with Iowa, allowing one run and striking out three batters in 2.1 innings, Sept. 11 at Indianapolis.
Brown has a 5.92 ERA (70 earned runs in 106.1 innings) and 121 strikeouts in 25 games (15 starts) for the Cubs this season.
I would expect Soroka to join Javier Assad and Aaron Civale as a multi-inning reliever out of the Cubs bullpen.
Today’s game preview will post shortly, at 3:30 p.m. CT, for today’s 5:40 p.m. CT start vs. the Pirates.
