Mike Soroka

Fantasy News

• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Dominant in first start

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2026

  Soroka (1-0) earned the win over Detroit on Monday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out 10 batters over five scoreless innings. Soroka dazzled throughout the start, racking up 12 whiffs and even recording the first immaculate inning of the 2026 campaign in his fifth and final frame. The right-hander was rolling at the time he was pulled, retiring eight straight batters (including six by strikeout), but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo opted not to push the hurler any further after he reached 89 pitches. Soroka has struggled with injuries for much of his career and hasn't reached 100 big-league innings since 2019, so it's reasonable for Arizona to be cautious with his pitch counts. With that being said, Soroka averaged over a strikeout per frame each of the past two campaigns (during which he was deployed as both a starter and reliever), and Monday's outing makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers in need of starting pitching.

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Shines in Cactus League return

  Rotowire Mar 20, 2026

  Soroka allowed one hit and one walk while striking out eight over five scoreless innings in Thursday's spring start against the White Sox. Soroka dazzled in his first game back from a stint with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. The right-hander threw 70 pitches (48 strikes) and will get one more spring start next Tuesday against the Guardians, Arizona's final preseason game. With Merrill Kelly (back) slated to begin the season on the injured list, Soroka will open the regular season as part of the team's five-man rotation.

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Starts Canada's WBC debut

  Rotowire Mar 8, 2026

  Soroka allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings in Team Canada's win over Columbia on Saturday at the World Baseball Classic. Soroka was on the mound for Team Canada's first game of the WBC. The right-hander threw 54 pitches (30 strikes), touching 97 mph and averaging 94.7 mph with his four-seamer after managing 93.6 mph with the pitch in 2025. He was signed by the Diamondbacks for rotation depth but has experience out of the bullpen. Soroka's exact role to start the season will be determined by whether Merrill Kelly (back) can avoid a stint on the injured list. Kelly recently threw a bullpen and is set to throw live batting practice Sunday.

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Final start before WBC

  Rotowire Mar 2, 2026

  Soroka allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Guardians. Soroka was on the bump for the second time in the Cactus League and lamented to Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic that he was trying to be too perfect with his pitches. That is evidenced by the 25 balls he through among his 47 pitches. This was Soroka's final outing before leaving camp for the World Baseball Classic, where the right-hander will participate for Team Canada. His eventual role for Arizona -- starter or reliever -- depends on the health of Merrill Kelly (back).

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Feb 25, 2026

  Soroka allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three over two innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Rangers. Soroka made his spring debut, throwing 33 pitches (24 strikes). He had a little trouble in the first inning but settled in for a perfect second frame. With six starters in camp with MLB experience, there was talk of Soroka moving to the bullpen, but a recent injury to Merrill Kelly (back) cut into the Diamondbacks' surplus in the rotation.

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Could land in relief role

  Rotowire Feb 16, 2026

  Soroka might open the season in the bullpen, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The Diamondbacks enter spring training well stocked in the rotation but with an unsettled outlook in the bullpen. Soroka, signed by Arizona as a free agent in December, made 17 starts for the Nationals and Cubs in 2025 before a shoulder injury limited him to relief work over the final two weeks of the regular season. Built into Soroka's contract are incentives that reward him for starts or relief appearances -- two points for every start, one point for a relief outing. He will earn $250,000 each for reaching 10 and 20 points, $425,000 each for reaching 30 and 40, and $650,000 for reaching 50. Barring a significant injury, the 28-year-old right-hander could reach those incentives as a full-time starter or reliever or a combination of the two roles.

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• Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Nets one-year deal from Arizona

  Rotowire Dec 8, 2025

  The Diamondbacks signed Soroka to a one-year contract Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com report. The deal is worth $7.5 million, with $2 million more possible in incentives, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Soroka -- who will slot into the Arizona rotation -- flashed some encouraging signs in 2025, ultimately finishing with a 4.52 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 95:29 K:BB over 89.2 regular-season innings covering 17 starts and five relief appearances between the Nationals and Cubs. He missed much of the second half with a shoulder injury but returned late in the season in a relief role. Soroka is a poor bet to hold up health-wise given that he hasn't reached 100 innings at the big-league level since 2019, but he has some upside and will only cost Arizona a one-year commitment.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Logs two scoreless frames in return

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2025

  Soroka tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Monday's 4-0 win over the Pirates. He walked two batters and struck out two. Soroka was activated from the injured list before the game after missing a little more than a month of action due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty made 16 starts for Washington earlier this year and one with Chicago after coming over at the trade deadline, but it appears that he'll now fit into the Cubs' bullpen in a long-relief role. It's a hit to Soroka's fantasy value, though he did excel as a long reliever for the crosstown White Sox last season, posting a 2.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 36 innings.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Returns from 15-day IL

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2025

  The Cubs activated Soroka (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday. Soroka has been sidelined since early August with a right shoulder strain but has been cleared to return after making one 2.1-inning rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa this past Thursday. All 17 of Soroka's appearances this season have come as a starter, but he appears slated for a relief role with the Cubs in the final two weeks of the campaign. Soroka excelled in a bullpen role last season with the White Sox, posting a 2.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 36 frames.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Expected to return during road trip

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2025

  Soroka (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during the Cubs' upcoming seven-game road trip that begins Monday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. Soroka has been on the shelf since early August after straining his right shoulder in his Cubs debut Aug. 4. The right-hander was cleared to rejoin the big club afte he made a lone rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, giving up one run on a solo homer while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings. The right-hander reached only 38 total pitches in that outing, so the Cubs are presumably preparing him to serve as a multi-inning reliever rather than as a starter.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Possibly nearing return

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2025

  Soroka (shoulder) is scheduled for a multi-inning rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, and he could rejoin the Cubs soon after that, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Soroka has been out since his first and only appearance for the Cubs back on Aug. 4 after he was acquired from the Nationals prior to the trade deadline. The veteran has been building up in a throwing program as he recovers from a strain to his right shoulder, and the rehab appearance may be his last step in the process. The Cubs also could be grooming Soroka for a long-relief role, as the rotation currently includes Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea, with Jameson Taillon (groin) set to return from the injured list Wednesday. Soroka's best chance at starting would likely be bumping Rea as the No. 5 starter at some point.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Throws live batting practice

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2025

  Soroka (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. It's the first time Soroka has faced hitters since he landed on the 15-day injured list in early August with a right shoulder strain. The right-hander has a chance to make it back before the end of the season, but he still has some ramping up to do, particularly if the Cubs want to bring him back as a starting pitcher.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Set to throw off mound Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2025

  Soroka (shoulder) has resumed playing catch and is set to throw off a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports. Soroka, who came over to Chicago in a trade before the deadline, left his team debut Aug. 4 after just two innings and 31 pitches due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty seems to be slowly working his way back, and the Cubs are targeting a mid-September return to the majors. Soroka could slot back into the rotation when healthy, either bumping No. 5 starter Colin Rea to the bullpen or potentially filling in for Jameson Taillon, who left his last start early due to left groin tightness.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Lands on injured list

  Rotowire Aug 5, 2025

  The Cubs placed Soroka on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to a right shoulder strain, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. The right-hander was removed from Monday's start against the Reds due to shoulder discomfort, with manager Craig Counsell saying after the game that an IL stint would be necessary. Soroka will be eligible to be reinstated Aug. 20, though it wouldn't be surprising if a longer absence is necessary given the nature of the injury.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Will require IL stint

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2025

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Monday's 3-2 loss that Soroka (shoulder) is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. The club is presumably still in the process of running more tests on Soroka's shoulder, but the right-hander's injury is considered significant enough that he'll need to be shelved for at least two weeks. Acquired from the Nationals ahead of the trade deadline, Soroka lasted just two innings in his Cubs debut, striking out three while giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk before exiting with shoulder discomfort. Ben Brown tossed four innings of one-run ball in long relief and is likely the leading candidate to replace Soroka in the rotation.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Exits start early

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2025

  Soroka left his start Monday against the Reds due to an apparent injury, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. He allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out three over two innings prior to departing. The team has yet to provide an update on Soroka, whose team debut was cut short after he tossed just 31 pitches over two frames. Ben Brown was called upon to work in long-relief option following Soroka's early exit.

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• Cubs' Michael Soroka: Team debut set for Monday

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2025

  Soroka is slated to start Monday's game against the Reds at Wrigley Field. After coming over from Washington in a deadline deal, Soroka will claim a spot in the back end of the Cubs rotation in place of right-hander Ben Brown, who appears to have been moved to the bullpen. Over his 16 starts with the Nationals this season, Soroka sported a 4.87 ERA, but his 1.13 WHIP, career-best 18.4 K-BB% and 4.05 xFIP all suggest that he pitched better than his ERA indicated.

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• Nationals' Michael Soroka: Labors in abbreviated outing

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2025

  Soroka didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Astros, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out four. Soroka struggled with efficiency Tuesday, running his pitch count up to 74 before his night concluded. Two of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the 27-year-old right-hander remains without a quality start in any of his past five outings. Soroka holds a rough 4.87 ERA across 81.1 frames, although his strong 1.13 WHIP and 87:24 K:BB are perhaps more indicative of the quality of his pitching. He'll remain a shaky fantasy option overall and is a prime candidate to be moved prior to the trade deadline.

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• Nationals' Michael Soroka: Rebounds despite loss

  Rotowire Jul 11, 2025

  Soroka (3-7) took the loss Thursday against St. Louis, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four. Soroka allowed seven runs to the Red Sox in his previous start, making Thursday's outing a bounce-back effort. Still, the Nationals didn't offer much run support, leaving the 27-year-old with his fourth loss in six outings. Soroka will take a 5.35 ERA and a 74:19 K:BB over 63.1 innings into the All-Star break.

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• Nationals' Michael Soroka: Fans 10 in no-decision

  Rotowire Jun 23, 2025

  Soroka didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Soroka kept the Dodgers scoreless through five innings and notched all 10 of his Ks before the sixth, but he was quickly bounced from the contest in the sixth frame. He allowed a ground-rule double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, loading the bases for Jose Ferrer, who served up a grand slam to Max Muncy. Soroka has posted seven or more Ks in three of his last four starts, owning a 4.03 ERA and a 31:8 K:BB across 22.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Angels next weekend.

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