Mike Soroka tears right Achilles’ tendon, out for season
By John Buhler
Mike Soroka has pitched his last ball game for the 2020 Atlanta Braves.
One of the worst things possible happened to Mike Soroka on the mound for the Atlanta Braves.
With a shot at a four-game series sweep of the New York Mets on the line, Soroka went down to a season-ending injury in the top of the third inning. You could tell right away it was bad, as Soroka fell to the ground after sustaining a non-contact injury away from the ball. He had to be helped off the field. Everybody and their brother expected the worst, which it sadly was: A torn Achilles.
RHP Mike Soroka suffered a torn right Achilles’ tendon tonight. He is out for the season.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 4, 2020
Soroka’s 2020 MLB season is officially over, as he’ll have to begin the long recovery process back from such a devastating injury. This is such a beyond brutal blow to a limited Braves’ rotation. Not only are the Braves without their 23-year-old ace the rest of the way, but it’s now Max Fried and a bunch of guys being asked to start ball games for the National League East contender. It’s awful.
Will the Braves be able to survive Mike Soroka’s season-ending injury?
As sad as it may sound, no, the Braves won’t be able to overcome such a tragic loss for the season. Fried obviously moves up to No. 1 in the Braves’ rotation. After him, it might be a bunch of Touki Toussaint and Kyle Wright while Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos tries to figure out how to scrap together a rotation to save his franchise’s season.
Given the Braves’ offensive firepower, strong bullpen and defensive prowess, Anthopoulos has a team capable of three-peating in the National League East again or at the very least, be one of eight NL teams that will qualify for the 2020 MLB postseason. Simply put, this team is too talented to mail it in just because its best pitcher is out for the season with an Achilles injury.
Related Story. Mike Soroka has to be helped off the field with foot injury vs. Mets (Video). light
Manager Brian Snitker won’t let his team quit after seeing Soroka’s season come to an end. Atlanta is 7-4 on the season and very much alive for having the best record in the National League. However, the team’s playoff viability is very much in question because the Braves are so painfully thin in their rotation. It’s time for Anthopoulos to make a deal before the season gets out of hand.
It’s been 25 years since the Braves won it all, but those World Series dreams have been dashed.