Soroka Poised for Return to Diamondbacks Rotation

The Diamondbacks appear ready to welcome back Michael Soroka to their starting rotation as early as Monday, when they face the Rockies. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated on a local radio show that everything points to the right-hander returning to action after spending roughly two months sidelined with a glute strain that began in late June.

Soroka's return would mark a significant boost to Arizona's pitching depth down the stretch. The timing of his availability could prove crucial depending on where the Diamondbacks stand in their playoff positioning. A healthy rotation with all available arms in play gives teams more flexibility in managing workload and handling injuries that inevitably arise during a long season.

The injury itself remains noteworthy. Glute strains can be unpredictable in how they respond to activity, and some pitchers experience setbacks when ramping up their workload or during their first few outings back. How Soroka performs in his initial return—velocity, control, feel—will tell whether the layoff has diminished his effectiveness or whether he can slot back into the rotation at or near his previous level.

For betting purposes, the addition of another established starter to Arizona's available arms could tighten their run-line odds in upcoming games and potentially lower totals if both teams deploy their best pitching. The Rockies matchup in particular becomes an interesting spot to monitor, as first returns often carry some uncertainty but also the element of an opponent that has had limited tape on recent versions of the pitcher.

Source: original report ↗