ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are taking a precautionary tone with Mike Soroka's most recent ailment (sore right shoulder), reportedly shutting down the 21-year-old pitcher for four or five days.
But it's also worth noting: The club was similarly cryptic about Soroka's tweaked shoulder last year – the same malady which curtailed the second half of his first season in the big leagues.
In other words, just like last year, the Braves can only play the waiting game here, hoping Soroka will bounce back in due time.
Soroka was a hot-and-cold asset in Year 1 (five total starts), posting three outings of zero or one run allowed.
For the other two starts, Soroka surrendered 10 earned runs and didn't get past the fifth inning either time.
The Braves remain hopeful that Soroka (3.51 ERA, 25 Ks) won't incur any other delays and compete for a slot in the starting rotation, joining Mike Foltynewicz, Julio Teheran, Kevin Gausman and perhaps Sean Newcomb, Touki Toussaint or Luiz Gohara.
