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PITTSBURGH \u2014 The way right-hander Michael Soroka<\/b> 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\u2019t a surprise to the Cubs<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get him on the mound and pitching, and I thought that was a little evident,\u201d manager Craig Counsell<\/b> said after the Cubs\u2019 4-0 win Monday<\/a> against the Pirates. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Soroka\u2019s 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. <\/a>And his fastball sat at 95 mph and touched 96.9, according to Statcast.<\/p>\n That represented his highest average fastball velocity in a game this season \u2014 with the Cubs using him out of the bullpen rather than starting as he had all year \u2014 after a steady decline in July.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to add him here at this point in the year, getting ready for a playoff push and a playoff run,\u201d starting pitcher Jameson Taillon<\/b> said Monday. \u201cI think he could be a really big part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs used Soroka\u2019s down time to begin introducing adjustments and related drills, even before he was cleared to throw off a mound.<\/p>\n He identified the \u201crocker drill\u201d as especially helpful. He\u2019d start in a wide base and rock back and forth instead of striding, working to sync up his delivery.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nice part about that drill is it takes a lot of the force out of it,\u201d he said during his rehab process, \u201cbecause you\u2019re not moving as fast, and you get a chance to work on those cues without pushing the velo at least early on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs hope that in addition to Soroka\u2019s increased velocity, the more efficient delivery will help maintain his health.<\/p>\n Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/b> had a specific goal going into Monday, when he broke out of a four-game hitless streak with a home run and double<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c[Monday] was just a focus on putting the ball in the air,\u201d Crow-Armstrong said after the game. \u201cUsually that achieves more time in the zone, for me, from what we\u2019ve seen. So really just working on making the right move to be able to put the ball in the air because my swing\u2019s naturally got lift \u2014 as does anybody\u2019s when they catch the ball out front and play the game out front.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s an important distinction: by trying to put the ball in the air, Crow-Armstrong isn\u2019t \u201cswinging for the fences,\u201d so to speak, but rather picking a cue that unlocks the best version of his swing. On Monday, it worked like a charm.<\/p>\n Right fielder\/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki<\/b> was out of the Cubs lineup for a fifth straight game Tuesday, still recovering from the effects of an illness over the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a lot better today,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cThe energy level\u2019s up, for sure. That\u2019s the big thing. \u2026 So we\u2019re getting closer.\u201d<\/p>\nCrow-Armstrong\u2019s adjustments<\/h3>\n
Suzuki still out of lineup<\/h3>\n