Michael Soroka’s scoreless outing against the Colorado Rockies provided a vital rotation boost as the Arizona Diamondbacks intensify their pursuit of a postseason berth.
Michael Soroka’s long-awaited return to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation was shorter than anticipated on Monday night, but the right-hander still delivered an encouraging performance.
Soroka had remained on the Injured List longer than initially expected considering he was recovering from a left glute strain rather than an injury involving his arm or shoulder.
His previous start came on June 19 against the Minnesota Twins, nearly two months before his return.
Arizona activated Soroka from the Injured List yesterday afternoon, and only a few hours later he took the mound against the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks entered the game looking to maintain their momentum after recently securing a 7-6 season-series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
An encouraging start
Soroka could not complete five innings because of his elevated pitch count, but his final line offered several reasons for optimism.
The right-hander worked 4.1 innings and was somewhat inefficient, repeatedly finding himself in three-ball counts.
He recorded four strikeouts and surrendered only three hits but issued three walks, including one to the final batter he faced in the fifth inning.
Some decline in command was understandable after such a lengthy absence.
When it came to preventing runs, however, Soroka accomplished exactly what Arizona needed.
He did not allow an earned run, lowering his ERA to 2.92 in 86.1 innings across 16 starts this season.
Another encouraging development was his ability to generate strikeouts.
Soroka struck out four hitters while producing eight swings and misses and eight called strikes.
His fastball averaged approximately 93 MPH, representing a slight decrease from his usual velocity but nothing particularly drastic.
The Diamondbacks had hoped Soroka could complete five innings in his return, but his pitch count made that impossible.
He needed 77 pitches to record 13 outs, with only 47 going for strikes.
That total was likely already close to, if not beyond, the workload Arizona wanted him to handle in his first appearance after nearly two months away.
Newly signed right-hander Zack Littell replaced Soroka in the fifth after two runners reached base and escaped the inning by inducing a ground-ball double play. Arizona won the game 9-0.
Why Soroka’s return is important
Beyond Monday’s results, Soroka’s return provides Arizona with something it desperately needs: Another experienced starting pitcher capable of stabilizing the rotation.
His perseverance has been one of the defining qualities of his career. Soroka has repeatedly worked his way back from injuries and continued competing despite interruptions that could easily derail a pitcher’s development.
He also brings composure and an understanding of how to navigate difficult innings without relying entirely on overpowering hitters. Monday night provided an example as his command was not particularly sharp, but he still prevented significant damage.
That ability becomes especially valuable during a postseason race.
Soroka will need time to rebuild his workload and regain his normal command after such a lengthy absence. His first outing nevertheless demonstrated that he can still give Arizona quality innings while working his way back toward full strength.
