Nationals' Michael Soroka: Fans season-high nine in loss
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Soroka (3-5) took the loss Tuesday as the Nationals fell 10-6 to the Rockies, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.
The nine Ks were a season high for Soroka, who generated 30 called or swinging strikes among his 93 pitches (58 total strikes), while the quality start was his third of the year in nine trips to the mound. The right-hander also served up two homers, however, on a night when Colorado tied a franchise record with seven long balls. Keeping the ball in the yard remains an issue for Soroka -- he's been taken deep 10 times in only 48 innings this season, fueling a 5.06 ERA that is out of sync with his 1.13 WHIP and 49:12 K:BB. He seems unlikely to solve the problem in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend against the Dodgers.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Falls to Mets
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Soroka (3-4) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five.
Coming off off his first scoreless outing of the season, Soroka found himself in trouble early Thursday, issuing a pair of walks in the first inning before giving up a three-run homer to Jeff McNeil with two outs. Soroka would settle in, allowing just one additional run over his final four innings, but the Nats couldn't climb out of the early hole in an eventual 4-3 loss. The 27-year-old Soroka sports a 5.14 ERA despite posting a solid 1.12 WHIP and 40:10 K:BB through eight starts (42 innings) this season. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, currently slated for next week at home versus the Rockies.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Blanks Rangers for third win
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Soroka (3-3) picked up the win in Friday's 2-0 victory over the Rangers, scattering two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander produced his best performance of the season in a duel with former Nationals starter Patrick Corbin. Soroka retired the first eight batters he faced before plunking Kyle Higashioka with a pitch, and Texas didn't get a runner past second base all night. The quality start was Soroka's second of the season, but both having come in his last three trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 17.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week against the Mets.
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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: Quality start in loss
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Soroka (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Giants, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out two.
Soroka was able to make it through six innings for the first time this season, though he'd ultimately wind up with his third loss as the Nats couldn't overcome an early deficit. Overall, Soroka sports a 5.61 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 25:5 K:BB across five starts (25.2 innings) this year. He's currently in line to face the Diamondbacks on the road in his next outing.
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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: Activated for start
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The Nationals reinstated Soroka (biceps) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Guardians in Washington.
Washington optioned reliever Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Soroka, who made just one start for the Nationals before landing on the shelf in early April with a right biceps strain. The right-hander began a rehab assignment April 22 and made three starts in the minors, most recently striking out 11 over five innings of one-run ball for Rochester last Friday. Soroka tossed 94 pitches in that outing, so he should be able to handle a traditional starter's workload as he steps back into the Washington rotation. Brad Lord is expected to be moved to the bullpen with Soroka back in the fold.
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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: Making rehab start Sunday
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Soroka (biceps) will make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Soroka worked 2.2 innings in his first rehab start Tuesday, and the goal Sunday is for the 27-year-old right-hander to pitch at least five innings. Soroka is in the final stages of his recovery from a right biceps strain that caused him to be placed on the 15-day injured list April 4.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Cleared for rehab start
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Soroka (biceps) is expected to make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday.
Soroka was placed on the injured list April 4 due to a right biceps strain but has made positive strides in his recovery in recent days. He completed a bullpen session over the weekend without issue and has now received the green light to take the next step forward in his rehab process by heading to the minors. The Nationals haven't outlined their plans for Soroka, but he may need to make an additional rehab start after Tuesday before becoming an option for the big-league rotation.
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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.
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Nationals' Michael Soroka: Slated for simulated game
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Soroka (biceps) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
It will be his first time facing hitters since he went down with a right biceps strain in his season debut March 31. If Soroka's simulated game goes well, he'll likely be cleared to make 1-to-2 rehab starts. That would set the right-hander up to return in late April or early May if he continues to progress.
Nationals' Michael Soroka: Goes on IL with biceps strain
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Soroka on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right bicep strain, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Soroka had hoped to make his next start after exiting his first outing of the season March 31 with what the team had referred to as a bicep cramp. However, the injury is now classified as a strain and will sideline him for at least a couple starts. It's not yet clear whom the Nationals will turn to in Soroka's spot in the rotation.
