Braves Rumors: Effects of long-awaited Michael Soroka return to Atlanta
The news that every Braves fan has been waiting for since Michael Soroka's first Achilles tear in 2020 is finally here. The right-hander is set to make his first start for Atlanta since that COVID-shortened season in his initial injury, which was followed by another Achilles tear and near-countless setbacks in his return to the mound.
But what are the effects of Soroka's return to the rotation, especially if he gets back and performs well?
The most obvious pair of effects for the Braves right now are what it means for the roster and rotation. With Soroka getting called up from Triple-A Gwinnett, Atlanta optioned Dereck Rodriguez, the son of Pudge Rodriguez, back to the Stripers. Moreover, you have to believe that Soroka getting this shot would mean that Dylan Dodd's time in the majors might be done (for now) as Soroka would ostensibly take that currently vacant fifth spot in the rotation.
Beyond the roster moves, though, the return of Soroka could have massive effects on the MLB Trade Deadline. FanSided's John Buhler touched on the notion that, if the right-hander comes back, stays healthy, and pitches well, that could change the scope of the deadline moves for the Braves in that they could conceivably avoid the starting pitching market, a position expected to be expensive at the deadline. Beyond that, it would also allow Atlanta to eye bullpen options more aggressively and perhaps continue to search for outfield depth.
In that same light, a quality return for Soroka would lessen the haste of getting Max Fried back in the fold, and perhaps Kyle Wright too, though that injury appears to be potentially more severe than expected.
The bottom line, however, is that the Braves getting Soroka back in the bigs — and even more so if he steps into that fifth starter role with quality stuff — puts the club in an even more advantageous position moving forward.
Braves Rumors: Spencer Strider on historic strikeout pace not seen in a century
Matt Olson and the Braves lineup putting a hurting on the Phillies in primetime on Sunday Night Baseball was the talk coming out of that game as the first baseman slugged two home runs, the team put up 11 runs, and they secured the series victory over their NL East rivals and increased their lead in the division further.
In the midest of that, though, we got another stud performance from young Spencer Strider, who pitched six innings and was credited with the win as he allowed just two hits, one walk and two earned runs while striking out nine batters.
With his nine strikeouts on the year, Strider is the first player in MLB to 100 on the season — and is also the fastest to reach that mark in more than a century, since 1893 to be exact. He got his 100th strikeout exactly in 61 innings, surpassing the previous fastest by Jacob deGrom in 2021 (61.2 innings).
Just a few years ago, Strider was dancing in his car to Fitz & The Tantrums — now he can't stop mowing down hitters.
On his current pace, Strider is set to end the season with 324 strikeouts. That would make him just the 20th player in MLB since 1900 to accomplish that feat and would mark just the 10th time since 2000 that a player has achieved that feat — Randy Johnson accounted for three of those with four straight 300K seasons from 1999-2002.
Strider bursted onto the scene last season as a rookie and we knew the kid was money. But what he's doing in his sophomore MLB season is truly legendary stuff.
Braves Rumors: Tanner Houck is a Braves trade target to keep an eye on
Considering that Tanner Houck has been a regular starter in the Red Sox rotation this season, this might seem counter-intuitive given what we discussed earlier with the effects of Soroka returning to the big leagues and the potential lessened need to pursue starters at the trade deadline.
Houck, however, is perhaps and outlier in that conversation, one that should make him a quality Braves trade target.
In Boston, Houck has spent time in numerous roles, ranging from long reliever to closer to starting pitcher. In theory, his stuff is that of a slider with nice velocity and movement on his sinker and cutter, a devastating slider from the righty, and a splitter that has improved over the past few years. His stuff, however, hasn't translated as a starter as Houck has a 5.30 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 10 starts this season.
Though his May 28 start against Arizona wasn't evidence of this, the larger sample size suggests that Houck has struggled the most when he's going a second and third time through the order. Opposing hitters have a .532 OPS in the right-hander's first time facing the order, but that jumps to .782 the second time through and .885 the third time through.
With the Red Sox recently displaying an affinity for moving starters to long relief roles, especially with the rotation starting to get healthier, there have been discussions about whether that would be where Houck is best. And for the Braves, that's where they should be enticed.
If Atlanta indeed loosens up the perceived need for starting pitching, especially if Soroka looks good in his return to the majors, the bullpen becomes the bigger area of focus. And with the unspectacular stuff of Colin McHugh and Michael Tonkin, Houck could potentially fill that need in a big way.
Whether Boston would want to part with Houck remains to be seen but, if the Red Sox pursue a starter in their own right at the deadline, it could make Houck — or even guys like Nick Pivetta, who was moved to the 'pen from a starter role — expendable to fortify the lineup, something that the Braves could make happen in the interest of strengthening the bullpen in a huge way, and even giving the club a spot starter if needed.
Houck was reportedly a hot commodity on the trade market prior to the season and, if the Braves are smart, they could help reignite that fire ahead of the deadline.
