The Atlanta Braves got a massive blow on Monday as they lost their starting pitcher, and young ace phenom Mike Soroka of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the remainder of the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Soroka tore his Achilles tendon after running off the mound to first base in order to cover for teammate Freddie Freeman on a ground ball according to Matt Snyder of CBS Sports.
The loss of Soroka to the Braves starting rotation is simply huge. A year ago, the Canadian was an all-star for the first time. He had a record of 13 wins and four losses with an earned run average of 2.68. In 174 2/3 innings pitched, Soroka had 142 strikeouts, and gave up 153 hits, 52 earned runs, 41 walks, and a WHIP of 1.11. What was also remarkable about Soroka’s season is that he only gave up 14 home runs. He had the least number of home runs allowed in the National League per nine innings (0.7).
Soroka had got off to a strong start in 2020. He gave up zero earned runs in six innings against the Mets on July 24, allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched on July 29 in a 7-4 Atlanta win over the Tampa Bay Rays, before struggling in a 7-2 loss to the Mets on Monday before the injury took place.
With the loss of Soroka, Max Fried becomes the Atlanta ace. So far this season, Fried has 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings of work, and has a strong earned run average of 2.31. It also appears that Cole Hamels is not close to joining the Braves pitching staff. Hamels, who was the 2008 World Series MVP with the Philadelphia Phillies, is out with a triceps injury. Hamels joined the Braves from the Chicago Cubs in the offseason. Expectations were high as he signed a one year contract worth $18 million on December 4.
Atlanta currently has a record of seven wins and four losses to start the 2020 MLB regular season. They will next play the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game series starting Tuesday.
