Michael Soroka will be back on the Truist Park mound Tuesday against the Cardinals.
The Braves recalled Soroka, a 2019 All-Star, on Tuesday morning, optioning reliever Ben Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett to make room on the roster for Soroka. This will mark Soroka’s first major-league start since July 21. It will be his first home start since July 16.
Soroka, 26, returned this season after missing multiple seasons because of injuries. The Braves have played it cautiously with the former top prospect, but that’s meant he hasn’t had consistent major-league opportunities. He’s appeared in just six games, starting five, and posted a 5.52 ERA over 29-1/3 innings. He’s spent the bulk of the season in Triple-A, where he has a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts (87 innings). On Tuesday, he was chosen the International League Pitcher of the Month for August.
“He’s been throwing really well,” manager Brian Snitker said. “So now was a good time to bring him up here. It’s been good. As long as he’s getting his command, repeating his delivery. It’s probably been good for him to be down there for an extended period. It’s been a while since he pitched, as we know, and he’s made it through the year, which is really good. So I think he’s probably in a good place right now after having all those starts down there and doing well. It’ll be good to see him out there.”
The Braves have used several pitchers to fill their rotation openings, including Yonny Chirinos, Allan Winans, Jared Shuster, AJ Smith-Shawver and most recently Darius Vines. Each had made at least one start since Soroka’s last appearance.
Tuesday begins a six-game homestand in which the Braves will host the lowly Cardinals and Pirates. The Braves enter the homestand with an MLB-best record of 90-46.
The team also announced utilityman Ehire Adrianza (elbow and shoulder injuries) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Tuesday. Adrianza appeared in five games early this season.
Tonkin’s value
The latest unknown reliever to make an impact for the Braves is Michael Tonkin, who’s produced a 3.33 ERA across 37 appearances this season. He’s recorded more than three outs in 26 of those games. It’s been a true success story for Tonkin, who last had pitched in the majors in 2017.
“He might be the MVP of the pitching staff, everything he’s done,” Snitker said. “The different roles he’s assumed, the big situations he’s come through in. What he’s done has just been phenomenal. Every year you have that guy you weren’t really counting on but always steps up and embraces their opportunity. Everything he’s been through, it’s a book, a movie, the whole thing. His career path and what he’s gone through, how he’s had the support from his family.”
Arcia gets a day off
The Braves started Nicky Lopez at shortstop Tuesday, resting Orlando Arcia. “I told him I’d been trying to give him a day off, but every time he’d hit a game-winning homer the night before and it’d be hard to put him down,” Snitker said. Arcia was available off the bench.
Grissom to IL
Down in Triple-A, infielder Vaughn Grissom was placed on the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Grissom has hit .280 with a .659 OPS in 23 games with the Braves this season. He’s a candidate for the team’s postseason roster.
