Michael Soroka (glute) throws bullpen session

Soroka did everything he could to keep Arizona in the contest, managing to grind into the fifth inning with a playoff spot on the line. He gave up three hits, including a solo homer to Gavin Sheets, while finishing with four strikeouts and two walks. He threw 77 ;itches (49 strikes) in his final outing. He finishes a strong Diamondbacks debut in which he returned to fantasy relevance after a several-year odyssey with a strong 3.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 114/29 K/BB ratio across 116 innings over 22 appearances, including 21 starts.

Soroka tossed two scoreless innings in Colorado before giving up two runs, one earned, in the third, including a solo homer by Mickey Moniak. He settled back in to pitch four more scoreless frames, ending his day after seven with just the two runs allowed while striking out nine batters. The 29-year-old right-hander is due to take a 3.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 110/27 K/BB ratio into one final start against the Padres in San Diego on Sunday.

Soroka had cruised through three scoreless innings before giving up a solo homer to Griffin Conine in the fourth. He bounced back with a scoreless fifth, ending his day after five frames with six strikeouts. The 29-year-old right-hander will take a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 101/26 K/BB ratio across 104 1/3 innings into a start against the Rockies in Colorado next Tuesday.

Lovullo also noted that veteran right-hander Zac Gallen will be moved to the team’s bullpen to free up a spot in the rotation for Soroka. The 29-year-old hurler has pitched well in 19 appearances (18 starts) this season, posting a 3.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 95/25 K/BB ratio over 99 1/3 innings of work.

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.

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.

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.