Jorge Soler activated from Covid Injury List, added to Braves NLCS roster

The Braves received good news on Thursday afternoon prior to Game 5 of the NLCS as Jorge Soler was cleared from the COVID-19 Related Injury List and added to the roster, replacing Cristian Pache. Soler will be available for tonight’s crucial Game 5 in Los Angeles.

Soler was placed on the Covid list prior to Game 4 of the NLDS, which was nine days ago. Soler needed to test negative and be cleared by MLB’s Joint Committee before returning to the roster.

Soler, who spent the better part of the last month serving as the Braves’ leadoff hitter, gave the team a real jolt with his power and patience at the top of the order. Atlanta has filled that spot with a mixture of Eddie Rosario and Dansby Swanson in Soler’s absence.

We are awaiting the lineup for Game 5, but given it has been more than a week since Soler last appeared in a game and how well Rosario, Joc Pederson and Adam Duvall have played against the Dodgers, it seems highly likely Soler will be on the bench tonight as a much-needed pinch hitting option. Should the Braves advance to the World Series, it seems likely Soler will serve as the team’s DH whenever on the road and will be an option to start at home.