Michael Soroka to undergo MRI on glute

Missing just over the minimum 15 days with shoulder inflammation, Soroka seemed to have a better chance than teammates Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen — who each had longer layoffs and also returned during the team’s last two games — to be effective. He was sharper than either of them, maintaining his normal pitch shapes and dialing up a little extra velocity while working in bulk relief after Gallen. Yet, he let up a brutal three-run home run to Bobby Witt Jr. that wound up being the difference in this game. The only real sign of rust was that Soroka struggled to command his four-seam fastball. Attempting to adjust off that, he threw one of his two sinkers of the night on the first pitch to Witt to try and get ahead and it was crushed for that homer. Still, we should be mildly encouraged by Soroka’s return and he’s likely to pitch again next week against the Marlins at home.

Soroka, back after missing two turns with shoulder inflammation, will pitch behind Zac Gallen tonight, even though he’s probably the better bet of the two. He has a 3.40 ERA in 18 starts this season.

Pfaadt gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out four. He has only eight strikeouts in 19 innings over his last three starts. Pfaadt isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, but has still managed a 3.53 ERA this year. He’s lined up to face the Rangers at home next weekend.

The plan is for both of them to throw about four innings and 60 pitches. If those outings go well, that could set one or both of them up to be options to return from the injured list next week in Kansas City.

Pfaadt, who struck out just one, allowed two runs or fewer for the 10th time in 12 starts since rejoining Arizona’s rotation, but since there was little run support to be had tonight, he took his first loss since way back on Apr. 11. He definitely hasn’t been as impressive recently as he was in his first six weeks back in the majors, so those in daily leagues might have better options than to start him in Houston on Sunday.

Pfaadt gave up three of those runs on an Ian Happ homer, and also gave up an RBI single to Michael Bush. After going 32 2/3 scoreless frames in a row, Pfaadt has now allowed nine runs over his last two starts, although he pitched better than this line indicates outside of that roundtripper allowed to Happ. He’s slated to face the Phillies next Monday.

Soroka, who gave up six runs to the Reds on Saturday, was placed on the IL today due to shoulder inflammation. “He’s going to hopefully be ready on Day 16,” Lovullo said. “The plan is to get him a couple days down, get him back on the bump and miss as few days as possible.”

Soroka, who is 8-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 18 starts this season, is down again after giving up six runs last night in his third start back from a glute strain. Kohl Drake could come back up to replace him on Thursday.

Soroka gave up six hits, walked three and struck out three. He fell to 8-4 with the loss. Soroka had allowed more than four runs in a game only once in his previous 17 starts this year. Soroka has a 3.40 ERA and a 3.71 xFIP. He’s lined up to face the Giants on the road next week.

Pfaadt saw his remarkable streak snapped at 32 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run when Nick Sogard blasted a leadoff homer on the very first pitch of the ballgame. It was the first round-tripper he’s surrendered in eight starts dating back to June 30. He was burned by the long ball in this one, serving up three of them for the first time since last June. It was a three-run homer by Mickey Gasper with two outs in the sixth inning that accounted for most of the damage against him. He finished with a season-high eight strikeouts and didn’t hand out a free pass. The 27-year-old has earned fantasy managers’ trust again with a sustained run of success, allowing two earned runs or fewer in nine of 10 starts since returning to the majors back on June 30. He’ll face the Cubs on Tuesday in his next start.