Thoughts on Michael Soroka’s potential return following bad outing in Gwinnett

After a really promising start to his 2023 campaign with the Gwinnett Stripers, Michael Soroka’s progress came to a screeching halt on Sunday, when he allowed eight runs (seven earned) on ten hits over three innings. The shelling couldn’t have come at a worse time, either.

Following back-to-back rainouts against the Mets, the Braves had to play a double-header yesterday, which means they will need a sixth starter for their game on Friday against the Orioles as they return home to Truist Park. That seemed like the perfect opportunity for Michael Soroka to make his first major-league start since 2020 in front of a sellout crowd, but Sunday’s performance might delay that moment for the time being.

It’s apparent from his first four starts with the Stripers that Soroka is not quite major-league ready. He still needs some more time to season in Gwinnett, and the Braves rotation has been lights out since Max Fried and Kyle Wright have returned. With that being said, I still could see the organization giving Soroka the ball on Friday night because this is a moment that is long overdue.

On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, we discuss Michael Soroka’s progress and how the Braves might approach his return to Atlanta moving forward.