The Cubs’ only real move to bolster the rotation at the deadline was acquiring Michael Soroka from the Nationals, and it immediately went south when the righty left his first Cubs start after two innings. Soroka was immediately placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain, something that had likely been bothering him for quite a while. An MRI while he was still with Washington revealed no structural damage, but something was behind a precipitous drop in velocity.
After sitting 94-95 mph with his fastball through his first 10 starts — which featured a five-week IL stint due to a right biceps strain, Soroka dipped steadily into the low 90s.