Michael Soroka had a chance to prove something in Saturday night's loss to the Miami Marlins. The Chicago White Sox held a 3-2 lead heading into the fifth inning when the veteran entered the game. White Sox starter Garrett Crochet exited after a 44-pitch fourth inning abbreviated his day. The AL Pitcher of the Month suffered his shortest outing since an April 24th loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Crochet has been nothing short of outstanding, and as a result of the horrific 2024 season on the South Side, he's become a trade target for contenders around the league. The lefty had completed at least six innings in nine of his last 11 starts, giving the club's middle relievers many days off. Soroka had a chance to pick up his teammate, but he paid dearly for a hanging slider to Dane Myers in the sixth inning.
Two Bumps In A Loss
Soroka knew the result as soon as the ball hit the bat. Before that pitch, the righty allowed just one earned run in his previous 12.2 innings. Soroka, a starter by trade, has been relegated to long relief duty for the Pale Hose. He's proven much more effective in that span than his stint in the starting rotation. However, he had allowed the Marlins to take a one-run lead.
It's important to mention that I am not letting the White Sox offense off the hook. Sox hitters couldn't muster a hit after the third inning in another one of many dismal performances. Additionally, completing three shutout innings in no way guaranteed a win. Two innings is plenty of time for the White Sox to surrender an even larger lead.
Nevertheless, neither Crochet nor Soroka is expected to be perfect.
Reliever Turned Starter, Starter Turned Reliever
For Crochet, the game is a bump in the road in a season that will be an all-star selection and Cy Young consideration . The remarkable season of the converted reliever could result in a lucrative contract extension, but it's been reported that those talks with Chicago stalled.
More likely, he's traded to a contender and pitching in October.
While this could be a mere bump in his path to becoming a major league reliever, Soroka's baseball future is unclear. One thing that seems inevitable is that his days as an every-fifth-day starting pitcher are over.
In nine starts for the South Siders, the righty compiled a 6.39 ERA and 1.52 WHIP . He struck only 24 of the 193 hitters he faced to erase doubts about his starting ability.
His journey as a long reliever has been a night and day difference. He's striking out 14.9 hitters per nine innings , using his slider to put away hitters while pitching to a 3.29 ERA in 27.1 innings.
What's On Tap Next?
Soroka is a free agent after the 2024 season, and a return to the White Sox is anyone's guess. He's starting to prove his value out of the bullpen for Chicago and 29 other teams. His future in the big leagues is that of a reliever and spot starter. Many viewed him as the centerpiece of an offseason trade with the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves sent Soroka and four players to Chicago in exchange for Aaron Bummer . The hope was that the veteran could provide trade value for contenders looking for starting pitching. That hasn't gone as planned, but Soroka is showing value as a reliever. Baseball is a game of attrition, and playoff teams could use it to help get through the dog days of summer.
If a trade doesn't materialize, the White Sox could use him for the same reason: many innings still exist. And for Soroka, he proves his worth in free agency and gives himself a future as a respectable reliever.
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