PITTSBURGH — The way right-hander Michael Soroka had been throwing in live batting practice and in a Triple-A rehab game, the number on the radar gun Monday against the Pirates wasn’t a surprise to the Cubs.
His progress since joining the team, even though it was interrupted by a shoulder strain in his Cubs debut, is a promising sign for the last two weeks of the season and into the postseason.
“We need to get him on the mound and pitching, and I thought that was a little evident,” manager Craig Counsell said after the Cubs’ 4-0 win Monday against the Pirates. “But it was good to get him out there, and good to get him a two-inning stint. And we got him a two-inning stint in a fairly big spot. So he did a nice job, for sure.”
Soroka’s signs of rust after six weeks on the IL included two walks and a hit batter. But he navigated two scoreless innings in his first game back. And his fastball sat at 95 mph and touched 96.9, according to Statcast.
That represented his highest average fastball velocity in a game this season — with the Cubs using him out of the bullpen rather than starting as he had all year — after a steady decline in July.
“It’s exciting to add him here at this point in the year, getting ready for a playoff push and a playoff run,” starting pitcher Jameson Taillon said Monday. “I think he could be a really big part of it.”
The Cubs used Soroka’s down time to begin introducing adjustments and related drills, even before he was cleared to throw off a mound.
He identified the “rocker drill” as especially helpful. He’d start in a wide base and rock back and forth instead of striding, working to sync up his delivery.
“The nice part about that drill is it takes a lot of the force out of it,” he said during his rehab process, “because you’re not moving as fast, and you get a chance to work on those cues without pushing the velo at least early on.”
The Cubs hope that in addition to Soroka’s increased velocity, the more efficient delivery will help maintain his health.
Crow-Armstrong’s adjustments
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had a specific goal going into Monday, when he broke out of a four-game hitless streak with a home run and double.
“[Monday] was just a focus on putting the ball in the air,” Crow-Armstrong said after the game. “Usually that achieves more time in the zone, for me, from what we’ve seen. So really just working on making the right move to be able to put the ball in the air because my swing’s naturally got lift — as does anybody’s when they catch the ball out front and play the game out front.”
That’s an important distinction: by trying to put the ball in the air, Crow-Armstrong isn’t “swinging for the fences,” so to speak, but rather picking a cue that unlocks the best version of his swing. On Monday, it worked like a charm.
Suzuki still out of lineup
Right fielder/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki was out of the Cubs lineup for a fifth straight game Tuesday, still recovering from the effects of an illness over the weekend.
“He’s a lot better today,” Counsell said. “The energy level’s up, for sure. That’s the big thing. … So we’re getting closer.”
Notes: The Cubs activated right-hander Michael Soroka on Monday, and he pitched two innings of relief against the Pirates.
If the Cubs can hold on to the top NL wild-card spot, they’ll host the best-of-three series at Wrigley Field.
