Gallen/Soroka could both return next week

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.

Gallen pitched fine here given the circumstances, he just wasn’t particularly on point. He heavily leaned into his slider given that it was the only pitch he could confidently command in the zone which helped him stay away from his fastball. That pitch has gotten crushed all season and came in two ticks slower than its average velocity, so it made sense that he shied away from it. The only earned run he let up came via a long home run to Carter Jensen on a slider that hung, which is the game a pitcher plays when they’re so in-zone-slider dependent. Similar to Corbin Burnes yesterday, Gallen returned after throwing one short rehab outing at Triple-A followed by about a 50 pitches appearance in a Bridge League game last week. He’s lined up for what’s likely to be another abbreviated outing at home against the Marlins next week.

Gallen will start against the Royals on Wednesday after missing two months with elbow inflammation. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his one rehab start with Triple-A Reno. He’s 3-9 with a 6.34 ERA in 19 starts for the Diamondbacks this season.

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.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Gallen was sitting in the low-to-mid 90’s with his fastball. He figures to make at least one traditional minor league rehab start since he isn’t eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until September 7. He’s been out with elbow inflammation since early July.

It’s technically a bridge league game in the Arizona Complex League where the Diamondbacks have control over the environment. Technically, it won’t be a minor league rehab start, but both Burnes and Gallen should be able to get their work in. Burnes is aiming for 25 pitches over one inning, while Gallen is targeting up to 50 pitches over three innings, per Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. It seems like both starters have a chance to make it back during the final month of the season, which would provide a lift for Arizona’s rotation mix that just lost Michael Soroka to a shoulder issue.

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.

Soroka struck out five and walked one against his former team. This was his second outing back from a mid-June glute strain, and he now has a solid 2.93 ERA on the season. He’s been a savvy one-year signing by Arizona, and he’ll look to continue pitching well, with a home start against the Reds up next.