Gregory Soto
YEARTEAMGGSCGSHOWLSIPHitsERSOBBHRERA
2021Vigilantes2600012032.13126204027.24
2022Vigilantes3800022044.14030254646.09
2023Vigilantes1900012022.1281682526.45
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
May 1 2024Soto earned the save Wednesday against the Angels, allowing two hits with one strikeout over a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto picked up his first save since Apr. 8, retiring back-to-back batters to close out the game and strand runners on first and third. While Soto shouldn't be expected to see much high-leverage work, it's worth noting that closer Jose Alvarado has pitched during the eighth inning in back-to-back games, leaving save chances to Soto and Jeff Hoffman.
Apr 8 2024Soto allowed one hit in a scoreless frame Monday, striking out two and earning a save over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was in a first-and-third jam with just one out but punched out Nolan Gorman and Nolan Arenado to close out the 5-3 win in the 10th inning. This came after Jeff Hoffman blew a save chance in the ninth. Soto now has a save and two holds with a 5:0 K:BB through 3.2 shutout frames.
Jan 11 2024Soto signed a one-year contract with the Phillies on Thursday to avoid arbitration. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto saw his saves total diminish significantly in 2023 after being traded from Detroit to Philadelphia last offseason. He still managed an impressive 24 holds and also posted an 8.8 BB% -- by far the best mark of his career. Jose Alvarado is the current favorite for the closer role, but with Craig Kimbrel out of the picture, this could be a bullpen to watch in spring training.
Jul 27 2023Soto struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Craig Kimbrel got the call in the eighth inning against the heart of Baltimore's order, while Soto faced the 6-7-8 hitters for the O's en route to his first save since mid-May. While the left-hander does appear to be manager Rob Thomson's second choice for save chances, Kimbrel's spot as closer doesn't seem to be in any jeopardy. Since the beginning of June, Soto has posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 16.2 innings while collecting six holds and a win in addition to Wednesday's save.
May 13 2023Soto pitched a perfect inning to earn his first save of the season in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto had no trouble protecting a three-run lead, retiring the side on 10 pitches. This was his first outing since Jose Alvarado (elbow) landed on the injured list. Craig Kimbrel got the first save chance Friday, but Soto should also be in the mix in what's likely to be a closer committee for the next few weeks. Soto has a 4.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB while logging seven holds over 20 appearances (18 innings) this season.
May 11 2023Soto is expected to split closing duties with Craig Kimbrel after Jose Alvarado (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-throwing Alvarado has been Philadelphia's top reliever and primary closing option this season with five saves, but he's now sidelined by elbow inflammation. Kimbrel has three saves but has struggled at times with a 7.62 ERA in 15 outings, which could allow Soto -- who tallied 30 saves for Detroit in 2022 -- to take a larger share of the closer role.
Mar 8 2023Soto (personal) officially arrived at Phillies camp Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was delayed in getting to the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida due to visa issues and had to bow out of an opportunity to pitch for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. But he can now work on playing catch-up from this point forward and should be a high-leverage bullpen option for the reigning NL champs come Opening Day. The 28-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Tigers in a January trade.
Feb 28 2023Soto remained absent from Phillies camp Tuesday due to ongoing visa issues, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a pretty safe bet at this point that Soto is not going to be allowed to suit up for Team Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Even if he arrived at the Phillies' complex Wednesday, he'd have less than a week there before having to depart. The 28-year-old reliever was acquired via trade from the Tigers in January.
Feb 22 2023Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested Wednesday that Soto (visa issues) might have to be pulled out of the World Baseball Classic, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is currently part of the projected bullpen mix for Team Dominican Republic, but he has yet to report to Phillies camp in Florida due to visa complications. "At some point he's got to get into some [Grapefruit League] games before he goes to the WBC or else you're putting him at risk," Thomson said. The 28-year-old reliever was acquired from the Tigers in January and is expected to operate in a high-leverage role this season for the reigning NL champs.
Feb 16 2023Soto has yet to arrive at Phillies camp due to visa issues, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: But he is close to the Phillies' facility in the Dominican Republic and can work out there while the visa situation gets resolved. Soto was acquired in a trade from the Tigers in January and projects to operate in a high-leverage bullpen role this year with Philly. He could even factor into the saves mix.
Jan 13 2023Soto agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Phillies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Soto, and he'll receive a significant raise after he posted a 3.34 ERA with 48 saves while working as Detroit's closer for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Phillies last weekend and is likely to see his save opportunities drop as a member of a closer committee.
Jan 7 2023Soto and Kody Clemens were traded from the Tigers to the Phillies on Saturday in exchange for Nick Maton, Matt Vierling and Donny Sands, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto saved 30 games for the Tigers last season, but he's unlikely to get anywhere close to that figure in a more crowded bullpen in Philadelphia. His underlying numbers didn't support his 3.28 ERA and didn't paint him as closer material, with his 4.21 SIERA coming in nearly a run higher. His 22.8 percent strikeout rate was merely average, while his 12.9 percent walk rate was worryingly high. He's likely to be merely one of a handful of late-inning options in Philadelphia this season, with his number of save chances likely to be determined in some part by whether or not his control takes a step forward.
Oct 5 2022Soto (2-11) allowed an unearned run while retiring just one batter to take the loss Wednesday against the Mariners. He gave up one hit and two walks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto took the loss for the second night in a row, ending a mostly strong campaign on a sour note. The lefty finished with a whopping 11 losses, though he also had 30 saves in 33 opportunities, to go along with a 3.28 ERA and 60 strikeouts across 60.1 innings. Though he can be volatile at times, Soto should head into 2023 once again closing games for Detroit.
Oct 4 2022Soto (2-10) blew the save and took the loss in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader in Seattle, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in one-third of an inning in a 7-6 extra-inning loss. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto entered the game in the 10th inning with the Tigers leading 6-5 and allowed two singles and a sacrifice fly as Seattle plated two runs to win the game. Just five of his 11 pitches went for strikes. It was just his third blown save of the season and first since June 16. The lefty has a 2.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB in 13 innings since the beginning of September.
Oct 2 2022Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Twins. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto, who came into the season with 20 career MLB saves, is now up to 30 in 32 chances this year. The lefty has a solid 3.17 ERA as well, and he's been even better lately with a 0.93 ERA across his last 10 games. Soto should continue to be a strong fantasy asset in 2023, even if the team around him struggles to win a ton of games.
Sep 28 2022Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto cruised through the Royals on just 10 pitches to earn his 29th save of the season. After taking a loss back on Sept. 17, the lefty has rattled off four straight scoreless appearances, picking up a save in each of those games. Soto has established himself as a fairly reliable closer this year, and he should head into 2023 with the role locked up in Detroit.
Sep 25 2022Soto allowed a hit and no walks while failing to record a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save during Sunday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto gave up two runs (one earned) in one inning against the White Sox on Sept. 17, but he's bounced back by converting saves in each of his last three outings. The southpaw has been among the most reliable closers in baseball this season, converting 28 of 30 save chances while posting a 3.32 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 57 innings over 59 appearances.
Sep 23 2022Soto struck out one batter in a clean ninth inning Saturday against the White Sox to earn his 27th save of the year. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Clean innings haven't been as common as Soto would like this season, as he owns a 1.34 WHIP. He got the job done here against the first three hitters in the White Sox's lineup, however, helping the Tigers to a 5-3 victory.
Sep 20 2022Soto pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout to pick up the save in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto needed just 10 pitches to retire the Orioles in order and earn his 26th save of the season. After allowing a run and being tagged with the loss in his last outing, the clean inning was a good bounce back for the Detroit closer. He owns a 3.44 ERA through 55 innings this season but has surrendered 12 earned runs in 20.2 innings dating back to the beginning of August.
Sep 7 2022Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Wednesday against the Angels. He struck out three. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto made things interesting, but he covered things up by striking out the side for just the second time this season. The lefty now has 25 saves, a 3.60 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 50 innings this year. Soto has had some ups and downs, though he's been locked in as Detroit's closer since Opening Day and should stay in that role the rest of the way.
Sep 5 2022Soto (2-8) allowed a run on two hits and two walks to take the loss Sunday against the Royals. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coming on in the eighth inning of a 2-2 ballgame, Soto labored threw the frame on 21 pitches and ultimately allowed a run to score to take the loss. The lefty has struggled with a 9.00 ERA and 2.27 WHIP across his last 12 appearances. During that time, his K/9 has dropped to 7.4, compared to 9.0 for the season, and he's also walking a batter per inning. Soto will likely continue to struggle unless he can increase his strikeouts and limit the free passes.
Sep 2 2022Soto allowed one hit and struck out three batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save over the Royals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto coughed up a two-out single to Brent Rooker but had worked around it with ease to finish the 5-4 win. The 27-year-old southpaw had given up four runs over his previous two outings but his strong performance Friday gave him his first save since Aug. 20. Soto lowered his season ERA to 3.56 with a 48:25K:BB and 24 saves through 48 innings.
Aug 28 2022Soto allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while retiring just one batter before getting pulled in the ninth inning of Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto came on in a non-save situation with the Tigers up 9-5 heading into the ninth. He got the first batter he faced, but then followed that up with a walk and a wild pitch before allowing a double, a home run and a single. That was enough for Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, who turned to Joe Jimenez to close out the game. The lefty Soto has been mostly solid this year with a 2.96 ERA coming into Sunday, but the righty Jimenez has pitched well too and could see more save opportunities moving forward depending on matchups.
Aug 20 2022Soto earned the save against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one walk in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto took the mound with Detroit up by a run in the final frame. He issued a one-out walk to Kurt Suzuki but quickly rebounded by inducing a double play to close out the save. Soto has racked up three saves in the past six days and ranks 10th in the majors with 23 successful conversions on the campaign.
Aug 16 2022Soto worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Guardians. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After allowing six earned runs over his previous four appearances, it looked like Soto was in for another rough outing when he allowed a leadoff double in the ninth. The Guardians advanced the runner with a bunt, but Soto dug in to get a strikeout and groundout to end the game. It was the second save in as many days for the lefty and his 22nd of the season. Soto also has a strong 3.16 ERA and 42 strikeouts across 42.2 innings this year.
Aug 15 2022Soto allowed a run on two hits but was able to secure the save in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Guardians, a 7-5 Detroit win. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second straight outing and third time in his last four appearances, Soto allowed at least one run, but the lefty was still able to record his 21st save of the season in 23 chances. Soto has a 5.23 ERA over his last 10 games and he's seen his season ERA creep up to 3.24. He should stick in the closer role for Detroit moving forward, but he is showing some cracks in the armor and might be a volatile fantasy asset the rest of the year.
Aug 12 2022Soto (2-7) allowed an unearned run on one hit across an inning of work to take the loss in Thursday's extra-inning contest against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto worked the top of the 10th inning, which meant the automatic runner on second base, and he allowed the runner to score on a two-out single by Oscar Gonzalez. The Detroit closer has taken losses in two of his last three appearances, though he's in no real danger of losing his job at this point with a 3.10 ERA and 20 saves in 22 chances this season.
Aug 7 2022Soto (2-6) allowed five runs on two hits and three walks against the Rays on Sunday. He recorded two outs and took the loss. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto entered a scoreless contest in the ninth inning and quickly lost control of things. He coughed up two runs and was charged with all three runners he left on base. He had gone eight straight appearances without allowing an earned run and he saw his ERA jump to 3.26 after his worst outing of the season. Soto is still riding a streak of seven straight converted saves.
Aug 2 2022Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto didn't record a strikeout but was still effective in shutting down Minnesota on 14 pitches (10 for strikes). The lefty has been really good this season with 20 saves and a 2.19 ERA. He's only allowed one earned run since the beginning of July and none in his last seven appearances. Soto should remain a good fantasy asset the rest of the way.
Jul 30 2022Soto pitched a clean ninth inning with one strikeout to record the save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Detroit's All-Star closer continued his steady play, as he now has 19 saves in 21 chances this season to go along with a 2.36 ERA. Soto is sporting an even better 0.96 ERA across his past 10 appearances. The lefty has a firm grip on closing duties and should be a solid fantasy asset the rest of the way.
Jul 12 2022Soto allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was able to protect a two-run lead to earn his fifth save in his last six appearances. Since a three-run blown save June 16, the left-hander has given up one run, five hits and three walks while striking out nine over 7.1 innings. He's 18-for-20 in save chances this year, and he's posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 32:15 K:BB in 31.1 innings overall. Soto's steady pitching keeps him locked in as the Tigers' closer.
Jul 7 2022Soto allowed a run on two hits but managed to secure the save in Thursday's 2-1 win over the White Sox. He walked one and struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was fortunate that he was staked to a two-run lead to begin the ninth inning, because the lefty struggled and allowed his first run to score in his last six appearances. He still managed his 17th save of the season in 19 chances, retiring sluggers Jose Abreu and Eloy Jimenez with two runners in scoring position to end the game. Despite the shaky outing, Soto still has a solid 2.70 ERA this year, and he should have fairly good job security in the closer role moving forward.
Jul 4 2022Soto worked around two walks to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Working with a 4-1 lead, Soto made things interesting by allowing the tying run to come to the plate. However, the lefty induced an Owen Miller groundout to end the game. Soto has been mostly effective this year with 16 saves in 18 opportunities to go along with a 2.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 30 strikeouts across 29 innings. The Tigers will likely get some calls on their top reliever leading up to the trade deadline.
Jun 29 2022Soto picked up the save Wednesday against San Francisco. He struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Eric Haase gave the Tigers the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth, and Soto was able to nail down the win for starting pitcher Rony Garcia. Soto retired the side in order on 10 pitches (eight strikes). Much was made of Soto's command and control issues, but he has handed out a total of four free passes in his last 18 appearances to solidify his hold on the closer job in Detroit.
Jun 25 2022Soto struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto successfully protected a three-run lead for his third straight scoreless outing and his first save since a blown save June 16 versus the Rangers. The southpaw is 14-for-16 in save chances with a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 27 innings overall, and he's added one hold and a 2-4 record.
Jun 20 2022Soto pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation during Sunday's 7-3 win over the Rangers. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto struggled in his last appearance Thursday, allowing three earned runs and blowing his second save chance of the year. The lefty still has been mostly solid with a 2.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 13 saves this season. His strikeouts are down, however, as he's currently posting an 8.6 K/9, down from 10.7 last year and 11.3 in 2020. Soto may be prone to more regular bad outings unless he can start missing more bats, though he should remain fairly secure in his role as Detroit's closer.
Jun 16 2022Soto (2-4) took the loss and a blown save Thursday versus the Rangers. He allowed three runs on a hit, two walks and a hit batter while striking out two in one inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto loaded the bases and then saw them cleared when Ezequiel Duran hit a three-run triple to put the Rangers ahead. Prior to Thursday, Soto had converted his last nine save chances. This was only the third time all year he's allowed multiple runs, and he still has a solid 3.00 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB across 24 innings. The southpaw is 13-for-15 in save chances, so his role as closer should be fairly stable unless he endures an extended slump.
Jun 12 2022Soto picked up the save Saturday against the Blue Jays, allowing a run on two hits while striking out one and walking one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto snagged his 13th save of the season Saturday against the Jays. He had a scare in the ninth inning after allowing hits to Gabriel Moreno and Cavan Biggio, followed by an RBI single from George Springer. However, the veteran reliever kept his composure and escaped without allowing additional damage. His ERA increased to 2.05 after the outing, but Soto appears to have a clear hold on the closer role in Detroit.
Jun 8 2022Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Wednesday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto earned his second save in as many days, but the lefty made this one a bit more difficult after registering a 1-2-3 inning Tuesday. He started strongly Wednesday by recording two quick outs, got into some trouble with a walk and a single, then finished the game with a strikeout. Soto sometimes makes things interesting, though he's been quite effective overall with a 1.71 ERA and 12 saves in 13 chances. He looks to have a fairly firm grip on the closer role in Detroit at this point.
Jun 7 2022Soto picked up the save, striking out one while retiring the side in order in a 5-3 win Tuesday in Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto needed only eight pitches to close out the Pirates. He is now 11-for-12 in save opportunities on the season and has converted eight straight opportunities. Soto has not allowed an earned run in his last 11 outings, compiling a 9:1 K:BB in 11 innings.
Jun 5 2022Soto (2-3) allowed an unearned run on a hit and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings to take the loss during Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto has been effective as the Tigers' primary closer recently, and he had tossed 8.2 scoreless innings over his nine appearances prior to Sunday's outing while converting all six of his save chances during that time. Although he was charged with his third loss of the year since he allowed the Yankees' ghost runner to come across in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday, he's built up decent job security as Detroit's preferred ninth-inning option.
Jun 2 2022Soto pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Thursday's win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto has now closed out wins over Minnesota in his last two appearances, and he's up to 10 saves this season in 11 chances. The lefty has also lowered his ERA to 2.04, and it looks like he's increasing his job security in the closer role after a few rough outings in early May.
May 30 2022Soto worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Monday's win over the Twins. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto recorded his second save in as many days, giving him nine for the season in 10 chances. After a few rough outings earlier this month, the lefty has now tallied eight straight scoreless appearances, which has lowered his ERA to 2.16. Detroit is just 18-29, so Soto may not see a ton of save opportunities moving forward, but he should still have plenty of fantasy value due to his role and recent performance.
May 29 2022Soto yielded one hit in a scoreless inning Sunday, recording one strikeout and earning a save over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto allowed a two-out single to Owen Miller but had no issue finishing off the 2-1 win against Detroit's division rival. The 27-year-old southpaw is riding a 6.2-inning scoreless streak, lowering his season ERA to 2.30 through 15.2 frames. He's converted eight of his nine save chances while posting a 13:8 K:BB this year.
May 26 2022Soto (2-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win Thursday against the Guardians. He allowed a hit and struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto needed 21 pitches to get through the top of the ninth inning but he kept Cleveland off the board in a 3-3 game, and the Tigers walked it off in the bottom half of the frame. The lefty doesn't always make things pretty, though he does have a solid 2.45 ERA and has recorded seven saves in eight chances. He's the top Detroit reliever at the moment for fantasy purposes, and that likely won't change anytime soon unless Soto truly implodes.
May 22 2022Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to record the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The ninth inning started ominously as Soto hit leadoff man Josh Naylor. However, the lefty retired the next batter, then got Andres Gimenez to ground into a double play to end the game. Soto has had a few hiccups this season, but he now has seven saves in eight chances to go with a solid 2.92 ERA. He's also pitched well lately with no runs allowed and three saves in his last three appearances. Manager A.J. Hinch has shown confidence in Soto despite some ups and downs, and fantasy managers should continue to do the same while he remains Detroit's closer.
May 16 2022Soto recorded the save Monday against the Rays after allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto retired the first two batters on a popout and a strikeout before surrending a single to Harold Ramirez, and he finished the job by getting Mike Zunino on a flyout to center field. He's now recorded a save in back-to-back chances after blowing a save opportunity Friday against the Orioles. Soto owns a 3.18 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with an 11:8 K:BB across 11.1 frames in 2022.
May 14 2022Soto pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit while recording one strikeout Saturday against the Orioles en route to his fifth save of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager A.J. Hinch was true to his word, as he said Soto would get the save chance if one arose Saturday. Will Vest has emerged as an intriguing stealth candidate for saves in Detroit, but Soto still has the job for now.
May 5 2022Soto (1-2) allowed a run on two hits and a walk without recording an out to take the loss Thursday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coming into the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2, Soto promptly allowed a hit to Yordan Alvarez. He then walked Yuli Gurriel before serving up a walkoff single to Kyle Tucker. Those are three tough hitters, but it's still a disappointing showing for Soto, who saw his ERA climb from 1.13 to 2.25 in the process. The lefty should remain the closer in Detroit, though fantasy managers may have to endure some ups and downs.
May 4 2022Soto pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto now has four saves in five chances this season, and outside of allowing an earned run back on April 8, the lefty has only allowed two unearned runs across his seven other appearances. That's left him with a stellar 1.13 ERA, and he stands a good chance of surpassing the career-best 18 saves he recorded last year if he keeps pitching like this.
May 1 2022Soto pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Saturday's win over the Dodgers. He didn't allow a hit or a walk and struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto blew his first save of the season in his previous outing, so while Saturday's 5-1 Detroit win didn't produce a save opportunity, it was encouraging to see the lefty bounce back. Outside of the blown save, Soto has been solid this season with a 1.29 ERA across seven innings of work. He has only five strikeouts so far, but after recording a 10.7 K/9 last year, the whiffs figure to pick up as well.
Apr 26 2022Soto (1-1) allowed two runs (none earned) on a hit, two walks and a wild pitch in Tuesday's loss to the Twins. He retired one batter via strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto didn't help his cause with the walks or the wild pitch, but the game ended on a two-run throwing error by catcher Eric Haase, giving the Twins a wild 5-4 win and the lefty his first blown save of the year. Despite the setback, Soto has been pretty good this season with three saves in four chances to go with a 1.50 ERA. He should retain a decent hold on closing duties in Detroit, with righty Michael Fulmer also available for certain matchups.
Apr 21 2022Soto pitched 1.2 scoreless innings to record the save in Thursday's win over the Yankees. He allowed one hit and struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto has now recorded three saves in three chances this season, and he's allowed just one earned run across 5.2 innings. The lefty is clearly the top closing option in Detroit, though Michael Fulmer will likely pick up a few saves here and there when Soto isn't available or if the matchups favor the righty.
Apr 14 2022Soto earned the save after striking out one and walking one in an inning of a 4-2 win Thursday in Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto pitched around a walk to record his second save of the season. The 2021 All-Star became the Tigers' closer mid-season last year and is 2-for-2 in save opportunities this season. While the 27-year-old only has two strikeouts in four innings this season, he averaged better than 10 K/9 in each of the last two seasons and should begin to pile up more punchouts as the season progresses.
Apr 11 2022Soto worked around a hit to pitch a clean ninth inning and earn the save in Monday's win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto worked fairly quickly, as he only needed 11 pitches to retire three batters and pick up his first save of the season. The lefty led the Tigers with 18 saves in 2021, and with the closer role pretty securely his to start the year, Soto could surpass that figure in 2022 if he's able to stay healthy.
Apr 8 2022Soto (1-0) allowed a run on a hit and a walk in one inning to earn the win over the White Sox on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto entered Friday's matchup with the score tied in the top of the ninth inning, and he gave up the lead via a solo home run with one out. However, he was able to earn the win since the Tigers rallied to score two runs in the bottom half of the frame. The southpaw made a career-high 62 appearances last year and converted 18 of 19 save chances while posting a 3.39 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 63.2 innings. He has decent job security as the Tigers' closer to begin the 2022 campaign.
Mar 30 2022Soto, who tossed a scoreless inning and struck out two in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, topped out at 99 mph on the radar gun, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Detroit closer looks ready for the regular season, with his high velocity actually a tick ahead of the 98.3 mph he averaged on his fastball last season. Soto has increased his average velocity in each of his three MLB seasons, and if he does that again in 2022, he figures to be an even more effective reliever. The lefty will be looking to build on the career-high 18 saves he recorded in 2021.
Mar 16 2022Despite the addition of Andrew Chafin to the team's bullpen on Wednesday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Soto is still slated to be the closer in 2022. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager A.J. Hinch tabbed Soto as his 2022 closer back in October, so he seemed pretty certain of that declaration. Chafin had a strong 2021 with a 1.83 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and five saves of his own, but he looks like a solid setup option at this point rather than a true challenger to Soto. The latter did record 18 saves in 19 chances last year, so he's probably earned at least a little job security heading into the season.
Oct 6 2021Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Soto (finger) will enter the 2022 season as Detroit's closer, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Hinch declined to name Soto as the club's closer at any point in 2021, the 26-year-old lefty was clearly the club's top high-leverage reliever before being shut down for the final two weeks of the season with a fractured left ring finger. The first-time All-Star ultimately concluded the campaign with a 3.39 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 76:40 K:BB in 63.2 innings while collecting six wins, seven holds and going 18-for-19 in save chances. Now that he's been formally named as Detroit's full-time closer, Soto could be in store for a larger share of the late-inning opportunities in 2022 after seven other Tigers combined for 24 saves in 2021.
Sep 19 2021The Tigers placed Soto on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a fractured left ring finger, and he won't return this season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is eligible to return for the final few days of the season, but he'll instead be shut down while dealing with the fracture in the tip of his left ring finger, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The lefty allowed three runs without recording an out when he suffered the injury Friday, so his ERA will end up at 3.39 over 63.2 innings. He also went 18-for-19 in save chances with a 76:40 K:BB this season.
Sep 17 2021Soto was hit on the hand by a comebacker in the ninth inning and will undergo X-rays to assess any potential injury, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto remained in the game after being hit, though the Tigers' coaching staff noted that the spin rate on his slider was well down. As a result, he was checked on by trainers and pulled from the game, though not before he allowed three baserunners without recording an out. Michael Fulmer followed Soto into the game and would likely serve as the Tigers' closer if Soto was forced to miss game action.
Sep 6 2021Soto picked up the save Sunday against the Reds after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, walking one and fanning two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was an uncharacteristically long outing for Soto, who had pitched more than 1.2 innings just five times this season. He still got the job done, though, recording the final five outs of the contest while allowing just one baserunner in order to claim his 18th save of the campaign. He also extended his streak of scoreless appearances to seven.
Sep 1 2021Soto pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save in Wednesday's win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto didn't mess around in this one, as he fired 13 pitches (10 for strikes) and made quick work of the Oakland batters. Since a rough appearance on Aug. 17 in which he allowed five earned runs, the lefty has now tossed eight innings with only an unearned run coming around against him. Soto leads the Tigers with 17 saves, while Michael Fulmer is second with eight, so it definitely looks like the former is the preferred option in the Detroit bullpen for fantasy managers.
Aug 27 2021Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to record the save Friday against the Blue Jays. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto needed just eight pitches to work through the ninth inning and preserve the Tigers' 2-1 win. The lefty now has a team-high 16 saves in 17 chances this season. Michael Fulmer and, to a lesser extent, Jose Cisnero remain in the mix for saves, but Soto remains the top fantasy option in the Detroit bullpen for the moment.
Aug 22 2021Soto (6-3) allowed an unearned run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout over two innings, earning the extra-innings win over Toronto on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While the 26-year-old wasn't his sharpest, he didn't unravel in either of his innings. Soto allowed Toronto to tie the game again in the 10th, but Detroit took the lead for good in the 11th to make him the pitcher of record. The southpaw owns a 3.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 65:34 K:BB across 53 innings while adding 15 saves in 16 chances and seven holds across 53 appearances.
Aug 20 2021Soto (5-3) issued two walks and struck out one in two scoreless innings to earn the win over Toronto on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto kept the game tied at 1-1 in the ninth inning and silenced Toronto in the 10th to collect the win after Detroit pulled ahead. The southpaw needed a strong bounce-back outing after yielding six runs (five earned) in two-thirds of an inning against the Angels on Tuesday. Soto has seen a significant share of the closing duties in Detroit -- he has 15 saves and seven holds while posting a 3.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 64:32 K:BB through 51 innings this year.
Aug 17 2021Soto (4-3) allowed six runs (five earned) while recording just two outs to take the loss Tuesday against the Angels. He gave up four hits and two walks while striking out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was a horrendous outing for Soto, who gave up two home runs and saw his ERA climb from 2.79 to 3.67 in the process. The lefty had only allowed two or more earned runs four times in 50 appearances this season before Tuesday, so this seems like more of a blip on the radar than a sign of things to come. Soto does lead the team with 15 saves and should stick in a prominent bullpen role, but it would be encouraging to see him string together a few clean outings to get back in a positive groove.
Aug 11 2021Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Wednesday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto allowed a leadoff single and a two-out walk, but the lefty was staked to a somewhat comfortable 5-2 lead and was able to close things out without any damage. The lefty now has a team-high 14 saves in 15 chances this season and should continue to lead the way in the Detroit bullpen. Right-handed options Michael Fulmer and Jose Cisnero should continue to see some save opportunities depending on matchups, but Soto is the best fantasy asset of the bunch right now.
Aug 7 2021Soto allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out two in his one inning of work Saturday, eking out his 13th save of the season in Detroit's 2-1 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto inherited a 2-0 lead to start the ninth but quickly saw that advantage halved when Wilson Ramos led the inning off with a solo homer. The collective blood pressure of the Detroit dugout rose again when the next batter, Owen Miller, dropped in a base hit. However, Soto recovered to strike out two of the final three batters he'd face to secure his 13th save. While this might not have been the most convincing outing, Soto hasn't blown a save since July 11.
Aug 3 2021Soto allowed one hit while striking out two Tuesday, closing out the Tigers' 4-2 win over the Red Sox for his 12th save of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto allowed a two-out single to Jarren Duran and nothing more Tuesday night, as he struck out Rafael Devers to earn his 12th save of the season. After a couple of tough outings to close out July, the left-hander's August has gotten off to a much better start.
Jul 27 2021Soto (4-2) took the loss Monday as the Tigers were downed 6-5 by the Twins, giving up an unearned run on one hit and four walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out three. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw barely escaped the ninth inning in a tie game, walking the bases loaded before striking out Willians Astudillo to escape the jam. Soto's luck didn't hold in the 10th, as a Max Kepler walkoff single brought home the phantom runner. The four free passes equaled his total from his prior 12 appearances combined, a stretch during which he'd posted a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB through 13.1 innings while converting six of seven save chances, so there's currently no reason to be concerned about his place in the closer mix.
Jul 22 2021Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to record the save in Thursday's win over the Rangers. He walked one and struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto registered a save for the third straight day, bringing him to 11 for the season. The Tigers have now won seven straight games coming out of the All-Star break, and Soto has benefitted, as he has saves in four of those seven victories. Michael Fulmer (neck) began a rehab assignment Thursday and should be back soon, but Soto should still see plenty of save chances the rest of the way, making him a useful fantasy asset.
Jul 21 2021Soto worked around a hit to pitch a clean ninth inning and record the save in Wednesday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto has had a few hiccups this month, as he came into Wednesday's appearance having allowed four runs in five July innings, and he was a bit rocky in this one, as he hit a batter and committed a balk in addition to allowing a hit. However, he was able to escape trouble to record his 10th save of the season. The 10 saves lead the team, and the lefty has managed a solid 2.77 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 39 innings this year. Soto should remain a top option for saves in Detroit, though Michael Fulmer (neck) is set to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday and figures to get some ninth inning chances when he's able to return to the MLB roster.
Jul 20 2021Soto picked up his ninth save of the season Tuesday night, as he worked a perfect ninth inning in the Tigers' 4-1 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto made quick work of his assignment Tuesday night, striking out the side on just 13 pitches. The left-hander even touched triple digits on a a sinker that Adolis Garcia managed to foul off. With the Tigers' next three series coming against the Royals, Twins and Orioles (as well as two more against the Rangers), expect Soto to get some more save opportunities.
Jul 17 2021Soto tossed a perfect seventh inning to earn the save in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was charged with a blown save Sunday during his final appearance prior to the All-Star break, but he began the second half of the year on a high note with his eighth save of the season. The southpaw didn't strike out any batters during his perfect inning, but he's now posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 37 innings across 39 appearances in 2021.
Jul 7 2021Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch two scoreless innings and record the save Wednesday against the Rangers. He struck out three. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty recorded his first save since June 15, though he's still been pitching well, as he now has a 2.78 ERA and 43 strikeouts through 35.2 innings. And despite the lull in saves, Soto does still lead the team with seven saves this season. Michael Fulmer (neck) is second with six saves, but he's currently on the 10-day injured list. That means Soto should continue to see save opportunities, along with righty Jose Cisnero, who had the team's two most recent saves before Soto's on Wednesday.
Jun 27 2021Soto (4-1) allowed a walk and struck out one over two scoreless innings, earning the extra-inning win Sunday versus Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto kept Houston off the board in the ninth and 10th innings, and he earned the win after Robbie Grossman's squeeze bunt allowed Akil Baddoo to score the winning run. The southpaw continues to work in a flexible role -- he's notched six saves and six holds in 34 appearances. Soto owns a strong 2.25 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 35:19 K:BB across 32 innings this year.
Jun 23 2021Soto tossed 1.1 scoreless innings to record a hold in Wednesday's win over the Cardinals. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto came on for starter Matt Manning with two on and two out in the sixth inning, and the lefty promptly struck out Matt Carpenter. He then worked a clean seventh with another strikeout. As the team's best left-handed reliever, Soto is often used in high-leverage spots earlier in the game, which was the case Wednesday. This is a boon to the Tigers but suppresses Soto's fantasy value to a degree, as it takes him away from save opportunities from time to time. He's still tied with Michael Fulmer for the team lead with six saves, so the 26-year-old should remain a useful fantasy asset despite his flexible role.
Jun 21 2021Soto pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto worked a clean seventh inning then gave way to Jose Cisnero, who pitched the eighth and ninth. Michael Fulmer secured the save in the bottom of the 10th. Fulmer seems to have the slight edge right now for save opportunities, but all three pitchers should remain in the mix. As the lone lefty of the group, Soto's usage will likely be the most dependent on matchups. He's been solid for the Tigers with a 2.51 ERA and 33 strikeouts across 28.2 innings this season.
Jun 16 2021Soto struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's his first save since May 26, with Jose Cisnero notching both of Detroit's other saves during that stretch. With Michael Fulmer also back in action, it's hard to predict who manager A.J. Hinch might turn to in the ninth inning in any given game, but Soto is at least locked into a high-leverage role, having posted a 0.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB over his last 11.2 innings.
Jun 8 2021Soto was not used in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Mariners, with Jose Cisnero getting the save instead. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cisnero has now closed out each of the last two Detroit wins, suggesting he's overtaken Soto for the closer role. The latter has pitched decently with a 3.09 ERA, though his 1.63 WHIP and 4.12 FIP suggest some regression is due. While Cisnero is on the upswing now, it's also quite possible that manager A.J. Hinch mixes and matches with both pitchers when save opportunities arise. With the Tigers not winning that frequently, neither player will have a ton of fantasy value in a dual-closer scenario.
Jun 6 2021Soto pitched a scoreless eighth inning and recorded a hold in Saturday's 4-3 win over the White Sox. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Detroit manager A.J. Hinch decided to use Soto in the eighth inning and then Jose Cisnero for his first MLB save in the ninth. Soto leads the team with five saves and has a solid 3.09 ERA, so this was likely more of a situational decision than a full-on switch at closer for the Tigers. Still, with Soto being Detroit's best left-handed reliever, Hinch will likely continue using him in important late-game spots, and those might not always come in the ninth inning.
May 26 2021Soto worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Wednesday's win over the Pirates. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The save was only the fifth of the season for Soto, which isn't too surprising given Detroit's 19-30 record. Michael Fulmer, who pitched the eighth inning and earned the win in this one, has also emerged as a solid bullpen option and has recorded four saves to date. Soto should continue to see most of the save chances for the Tigers, but don't expect that volume to be particularly high.
May 12 2021Soto worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Royals. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto started the top of the ninth inning by walking Jorge Soler but then quickly settled down and retired the next three Kansas City hitters. The lefty has four saves in four chances this season, to go with a solid 2.87 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 15.2 innings. He should remain a serviceable fantasy asset, though the 12-24 Tigers aren't likely to give him too many save opportunities moving forward.
May 5 2021Soto (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits across 1.1 innings but was able to earn the win in extra innings Wednesday against the Red Sox. He walked two and struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto worked the bottom of the ninth inning in a 3-3 game and escaped without allowing a run despite loading the bases. Manager A.J. Hinch decided to trot Soto back out there after the Tigers scored three times in the top of the 10th, but the lefty got the hook after allowing two of the first three batters to reach. Michael Fulmer then came on and secured his first MLB save, giving Soto his second win of the season. It wasn't the smoothest appearance for the 26-year-old, though he does still have a solid 3.46 ERA and should continue to see the bulk of the save opportunities in Detroit.
Apr 27 2021Soto pitched a clean ninth inning to earn the save in Tuesday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second straight appearance, Soto pitched a full inning without striking anyone out, but fantasy managers won't complain about his third save in as many opportunities. The lefty does have 11 strikeouts across 10.2 innings this season and he fanned 29 in 23 innings last year, so he'll likely start racking up the K's again in short order. Soto should also continue to see the bulk of the save opportunities in Detroit, though with the team sitting at 8-16, he might not get a ton of leads to protect.
Apr 21 2021Soto pitched a clean seventh inning with two strikeouts to earn the save in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto took a tough loss in his last appearance, allowing an unearned walkoff run, but he made sure to leave nothing to chance in this one as he nailed down his second save. The lefty simply overpowered the Pirates on just 11 pitches, and he now has 11 strikeouts this season in 8.1 innings pitched. Soto has the best pure stuff of any Detroit reliever, which should make him the favorite for save opportunities moving forward.
Apr 18 2021Soto (1-1) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk to take the loss Sunday against the Athletics. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tasked with keeping Oakland off the board in the bottom of the ninth in a 2-2 game, Soto started the frame with a strikeout. However, he gave up a one-out double to Matt Olson, who then scored the walkoff run on a fielding error by Jeimer Candelario at third base. The lefty reliever has been good for the Tigers with a 2.45 ERA through seven appearances, and he should see better results moving forward if he keeps pitching like this.
Apr 6 2021Soto (1-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Twins by allowing one hit with two strikeouts and zero walks over two scoreless innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old kept Minnesota off the board during the ninth and 10th innings amid a 3-3 tie, and he earned the victory when Detroit walked it off in the bottom of the 10th. Soto surrendered two runs while recording a save Opening Day, but he's provided three scoreless frames over his past two appearances.
Mar 31 2021Detroit manager A.J. Finch said Soto "very much has closer stuff," and he looks likely to assume the role to begin the season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto has the best pure stuff of any Detroit reliever, and with Joe Jimenez demoted to Triple-A, it looks like the lefty will start the season as the Tigers' closer and could lock down the role long term if he's effective. Bryan Garcia and Jose Cisnero could also be in the mix for saves, but Soto has the most fantasy upside among that trio.
Mar 19 2021Soto averaged 99.5 mph on his fastball in Friday's Grapefruit League appearance and hit 100.9, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto was overpowering in his clean inning of work against the Blue Jays, tossing 13 pitches (eight for strikes) and striking out one. Manager A.J. Hinch said the lefty was "really in control of his inning," and Soto looks like the frontrunner for the closer role in Detroit at this point. He saved two games for the Tigers last season.
Mar 14 2021Soto has allowed one run across 2.2 innings so far in Grapefruit League action. He's walked three and struck out four. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is walking too many batters in the early going, but he's also exhibiting his overpowering stuff with the four strikeouts. The lefty is likely the top option to close in Detroit, as he has greater strikeout potential than fellow reliever Bryan Garcia. However, no one in the Tigers' bullpen has really established themselves as a dominant closer, so it's possible that new manager A.J. Hinch mixes and matches for a bit, at least until someone stands out. Soto saved two games in three chances last season.
Feb 24 2021Soto resumed training with the Tigers on Wednesday after clearing COVID-19 intake protocols, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is among a slew of international Tigers players who was delayed by visa issues to begin spring training, but he's officially in the fold now. He missed about a week of workouts, but that shouldn't put him too far behind his fellow relievers leading up to Opening Day. After posting a 4.30 ERA and a 29:13 K:BB while notching two saves over his 27 appearances during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Soto is one of multiple relievers competing for the Tigers' closing gig this spring.
Feb 18 2021Soto has arrived at camp but still has to clear intake protocols before joining his teammates, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Travel issues slightly delayed Soto's arrival, as they have for a handful of other international players. He'll miss a bit more time due to health protocols but should still have time to ramp up for the start of the regular season.
Feb 17 2021Soto has yet to arrive at spring training due to travel issues, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is the likely favorite to begin the 2021 season as the Tigers' closer, but he isn't present for the start of camp due to travel issues. It's not yet clear when he'll arrive, but he'll attempt to work on his control heading into the regular season after posting a 13.3 BB% last year. The southpaw worked on his slider during the offseason and hopes to throw it more in 2021 after it was quite effective last season.
Jan 29 2021Soto spent much of his winter ball campaign working on his slider, with the intent on throwing it more this season, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports. "I wanted to be comfortable and have trust to throw it in any corner of the plate or any pitch count or any situation of the game," Soto said. "I worked very hard on that. I want to keep myself aware that I can use the slider anytime I want. ... My slider, I consider it very good. It's just a matter of confidence and trust." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto is part of the Tigers' late-inning mix. He got off to a great start to the season but really struggled in September. That slider was nearly untouchable last season - he allowed just one hit when throwing it 80 times. Alas, he couldn't always throw it for strikes, and overall he had a 13.3 BB%, which is poor for a potential closer.
Sep 5 2020Soto was charged with the blown save in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Twins. He allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a wild pitch while failing to record an out. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was on the heels of six straight scoreless appearances, a span during which Soto earned his first two career saves. Jose Cisnero cleaned up Soto's mess and now has a 1.37 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB. It would not be a surprise to see Cisnero grab hold of at least a partial share of the closer role and steal some saves from the hard-throwing lefty over the remainder over the season.
Aug 30 2020Soto allowed a hit but pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto now has saves in consecutive games for the Tigers, and he could lock down the closer's role more permanently with continued strong play. Joe Jimenez, who was recently removed as the closer, pitched in the seventh inning Sunday and has an 11.70 ERA this season. Buck Farmer pitched in the eighth and is another option for saves, as is Jose Cisnero, but Soto appears to be the primary candidate at the moment.
Aug 29 2020Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless inning and record the save in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto got off to a rough start in the seventh inning, as he gave up a single to Nelson Cruz and then walked Eddie Rosario. However, the lefty reliever was able to induce a double play grounder from Miguel Sano and then struck out Marwin Gonzalez to end the game and record his first career MLB save. The Tigers recently removed the struggling Joe Jimenez from the closer's role, and Soto figures to receive more save opportunities moving forward, though righties Buck Farmer and Jose Cisnero should also be in the mix based on matchups.
Aug 26 2020Soto is a likely candidate to see save opportunities after Joe Jimenez lost the closer's job, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old is unlikely to fully step into the role, as manager Ron Gardenhire indicated he plans to play matchups with Soto, Jose Cisnero and Buck Farmer. Soto has a 3.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 15.1 innings this season, and he's only allowed runs in two of his 16 appearances.
Aug 19 2020Soto (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in one inning to take the loss Wednesday versus the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Soto surrendered homers to Jose Abreu and Edwin Encarnacion in the eighth inning. The 25-year-old Soto has struggled in consecutive appearances versus the White Sox -- he allowed four runs without recording an out in Tuesday's loss. Those two bad outings have ballooned Soto's ERA to 4.76 with a 0.88 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 11.1 innings across 12 outings.
Aug 10 2020Soto has made seven scoreless appearances out of the Detroit bullpen this season, striking out 10 over 7.2 innings while allowing one hit and one walk. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Tigers still viewed Soto as a potential starter last season, but after he found success in the bullpen in the second half of 2019, the lefty was converted to relief on a full-time basis. He has enjoyed a nice uptick in velocity with the move to the bullpen and has emerged as the Tigers' most electric late-inning arm, allowing him to rise up the depth chart quickly. With Buck Farmer (groin) moving to the injured list Monday, Soto will likely be the next man up for saves in the event struggling closer Joe Jimenez misses time or gets removed from the role.
Apr 2 2020Soto will likely earn a spot in the Tigers' bullpen when the regular season is able to start, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It is generally expected that MLB teams will be allowed to have up to 30 players when the season begins, which only helps Soto's chances as teams will likely deepen their bullpens. The southpaw struggled as a starter in 2019 but showed flashes as a reliever, and he could end up as Detroit's main lefty out of the bullpen in 2020 if he pitches well.
Feb 18 2020Soto hit 98 mph on the radar gun Tuesday and has looked impressive to begin camp, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a strong showing in the Dominican winter league, where he allowed just one run and struck out 16 across 11 innings of work, Soto seems to be carrying over some momentum. The 25-year-old lefty showed flashes last year out of the bullpen, posting a 3.93 ERA in 34 innings of relief, and he could earn more high leverage work this season.
Jul 24 2019Soto pitched three scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Phillies. He allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out two.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 20 2019Soto was recalled by the Tigers<\/a> on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019The Tigers optioned<\/a> Soto to Triple-A Toledo following Sunday's 12-8 win over the Royals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2019Soto has moved to the Tigers' bullpen for the time being, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 7 2019Soto (0-3) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on three hits across two innings of work. He struck out one and did not issue a walk.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Soto will serve as the opener Sunday against the Red Sox, Jason Beck of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Soto is no longer listed as the starter<\/a> for Friday's game against the Red Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Soto is listed<\/a> as the starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Red Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 3 2019Soto is scheduled to make his next start with the Tigers on Saturday against the Red Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Manager Ron Gardenhire said that Soto would receive another turn in Detroit's rotation before the All-Star break, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News<\/a> reports. \"He's going to be here,\" Gardenhire said of the left-hander. \"He'll get another start [probably Thursday in Chicago]. We've got a lot of games coming up here.\"Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2019Soto allowed three runs on four hits with a walk and strikeout across 3.2 innings during a no-decision against the Nationals on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2019Soto allowed three runs on four hits with a walk and strikeout across 3.2 innings in a no-decision against the Nationals on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Soto will be recalled to start Saturday's game against the Nationals, Jason Beck of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019The Tigers optioned Soto to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Soto pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits with four walks and three strikeouts during a no-decision against the Indians on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Soto will be recalled<\/a> from Triple-A Toledo prior to Saturday's game against the Indians.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 25 2019Soto was optioned<\/a> to Triple-A Toledo following Saturday's loss to the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 25 2019Soto was optioned to Triple-A Toledo<\/a> following Saturday's loss to the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 24 2019Soto yielded five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four over 3.2 innings Friday night in a no-decision against New York.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Soto was recalled<\/a> from Double-A Erie ahead of his scheduled start against the Astros on Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Soto (0-2) allowed two runs on three hits across two innings of work Wednesday against the Astros to take the loss. He walked two and struck out threeSubscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Soto will be recalled from Double-A Erie to start Wednesday against the Astros, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 11 2019Soto was called up from Double-A Erie<\/a> on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 11 2019Soto (0-1) was optioned to Double-A Erie after taking the loss in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins, Emily Waldon of The Athletic<\/a> reports. He gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings while striking out one.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Soto is expected to be recalled from Double-A Erie to serve as the Tigers' 26th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins, Jason Beck of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.