Fantasy News

• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Settles in for win

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Lorenzen (2-0) got the win Atlanta on Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings. All three runs against Lorenzen came in the first inning after he gave up a home run to Marcell Ozuna. After that, Lorenzen was able to get in a nice groove and shut down Atlanta's talented lineup for his second win in as many tries. He's been an excellent addition thus far for a Rangers rotation still working on getting guys back from injury. Lorenzen owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB in 11 innings and lines up for another weekend start against Cincinnati.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Earns win in season debut

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Lorenzen (1-0) allowed zero runs on three hits while walking five to earn the win in Monday's 1-0 victory over the Tigers. He struck out four. Lorenzen struggled with his control (46 strikes on 79 pitches), but a five-inning shutout is about as good of a result as the Rangers could have hoped to get from him in his team debut. He was able to end his night on a high note by induced an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the fifth. The veteran righty signed with the Rangers in late March after coming off a career-high 153 innings split between the Tigers and Phillies last season. He'll likely have a longer leash in his next start with Texas, which is expected to come over the weekend in Atlanta.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Activated for Rangers debut

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Lorenzen (neck) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Rangers on Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. Lorenzen is set to make his Rangers and season debut with a start Monday in Detroit. While technically on the IL with a neck injury, Lorenzen making three rehab starts had as much or more to do with knocking the rust off after he didn't sign until late March. He held a 6.35 ERA and 13:9 K:BB over 11.1 innings in those rehab outings and doesn't make for a very desirable fantasy start Monday.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Making season debut Monday

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Lorenzen (neck) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his Rangers debut Monday against the Tigers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. The right-hander made his third rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday and allowed four runs across 4.2 innings, and he'll join the big-league rotation Monday with Cody Bradford (back) headed to the injured list. Lorenzen's role appeared in question with Bradford securing a longer-term rotation spot due to his performance, but Lorenzen will now have at least a couple weeks to stake his claim to a starting spot.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Making another rehab start

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Lorenzen (neck) said Sunday he'll make one more minor-league rehab start before joining the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. The right-hander threw 70 pitches while allowing a run over four innings with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, and he'll continue building up his workload in his next rehab start, which could come Tuesday. Lorenzen is on the shelf with a neck strain, but the purpose of his stint on the injured list is primarily to build up his pitch count after signing with Texas late in spring training.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Builds up to 70 pitches

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2024

  Lorenzen (neck) threw 70 pitches while allowing one run across four innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. Lorenzen signed late in the spring and is using his stint on the injured list primarily to build up his pitch count. He made significant progress from his first outing when he threw 50 pitches, meaning it's realistic that he'll be with the Rangers for his next outing. Though it hasn't been confirmed, Lorenzen could make his season debut during the upcoming three-game set versus Oakland, which begins Tuesday.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Covers 50 pitches in rehab start

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Lorenzen (neck) struck out three over 2.2 innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock. Though he's officially on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain, Lorenzen isn't believed to be dealing with any major health concerns. Instead, he was placed on the IL prior to Opening Day so he could continue the ramp-up process in the minors since he missed most of spring training after not signing with the Rangers until March 22. Lorenzen didn't look especially overpowering in his first rehab start, but more importantly, he built up to 50 pitches (34 strikes). He's expected to make another rehab start with Round Rock on Thursday and will likely push his pitch count into the 65-to-70 range, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. If all goes well, Lorenzen could then return from the IL early next week and slot into the Texas rotation during the club's three-game series with Oakland that runs from April 9 through 11.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: On IL with neck strain

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  The Rangers placed Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right neck strain. General manager Chris Young noted Wednesday that Lorenzen was set to open the season on the IL, but it wasn't until the Rangers made the transaction official Thursday that the team shed light on his injury. The neck strain isn't considered a concern; instead, Lorenzen likely just needs additional time to build up to a starter's workload after he didn't sign a one-year deal with the Rangers until last week. He'll likely make one or two rehab starts at Triple-A Round Rock before he returns from the IL and enters Texas' rotation.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Pitching at Triple-A

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2024

  Lorenzen (undisclosed) threw live batting practice Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. The right-hander will begin the season on the injured list with an unspecified designation as he continues to build up his throwing program after signing with the Rangers last week. Lorenzen threw 28 pitches during Wednesday's session and will continue ramping up his workload Saturday, with another start scheduled for the back half of next week. The 32-year-old will be eligible to be activated during the second week of April.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Opening season on IL

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2024

  Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Lorenzen will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. According to Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com, Lorenzen isn't dealing with an actual injury, so it'll be interesting to see how Texas lists him once he's formally placed on the IL ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Cubs. Because he was a free agent all offseason until he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Texas on March 20, Lorenzen simply didn't have enough time to get built up for a starting role due to his late arrival at spring training. Assuming he's able to complete his buildup program while on the shelf, Lorenzen should be ready to return from the IL when first eligible April 9. At that point, Lorenzen could displace Cody Bradford as the Rangers' No. 5 starter.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Set for bullpen Tuesday

  Rotowire Mar 26, 2024

  Lorenzen will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Dave Sessions of MLB.com reports. Lorenzen, who signed with the Rangers last Wednesday, is expected to eventually be part of the rotation. "We're building him up," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Monday, noting that Lorenzen is "a candidate" for the Opening Day roster. "He's been throwing a lot, but the plan is to see where we're at [Tuesday] when he gets a nice bullpen." Given the need to build up Lorenzen's pitch count, it may be safe to assume that Cody Bradford will make at least one start.

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• Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Will be part of rotation

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2024

  Lorenzen said in an interview with Foul Territory on Friday that he will be part of the Rangers' rotation, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. Lorenzen agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with Texas earlier this week, shortly after getting up to 70 pitches in a throwing session Monday. It's not clear when he might be ready to make his first start for the Rangers, but the intention it to put him in the rotation. That means Cody Bradford -- who had been named the fifth starter prior to the Lorenzen signing -- will either move to the bullpen or to the Triple-A Round Rock rotation.

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• Michael Lorenzen: Throws 70 pitches Sunday

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2024

  Lorenzen threw 70 pitches with four up-downs Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Lorenzen was hitting 94-to-96 miles per hour with his fastball in the throwing session. While Lorenzen's workout wasn't the equivalent of pitching in a more organized exhibition game setting, it does offer the hope that he'll be ready to pitch soon after he eventually signs with a team. The Yankees and White Sox are two of the teams reportedly showing recent interest in the free-agent right-hander.

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• Michael Lorenzen: Yankees, White Sox involved

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2024

  The Yankees and White Sox are among the teams to show interest in Lorenzen, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The Yankees are still awaiting more clarity on Gerrit Cole's (elbow) situation, but with their ace likely to miss a chunk of the season, at minimum, they're poking around on rotation help. As far as the White Sox go, they've traded Dylan Cease and moved Michael Kopech to the bullpen, so they desperately need arms for their rotation. Lorenzen posted a 4.18 ERA and 111:47 K:BB over 153 innings last season between the Tigers and Phillies.

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• Michael Lorenzen: Holds audition for clubs

  Rotowire Jan 23, 2024

  Lorenzen threw for about 16 interested teams in California on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. For what it's worth, Murray says Lorenzen "impressed" in the session. The veteran right-hander is coming off a productive 2023 campaign split between the Tigers and Phillies, having posted a 4.18 ERA and 111:47 K:BB over 153 innings. He's among the second-tier free-agent starting pitchers still looking for a contract.

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• Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Joins roster for NLDS

  Rotowire Oct 7, 2023

  Lorenzen is listed on the Phillies' roster for their NLDS matchup with Atlanta, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. Lorenzen wasn't a part of the Phillies' wild-card roster as they opted for extra bench depth, but he will rejoin the team as the 13th and final pitcher. The 31-year-old righty posted a 4.18 ERA and 1.21 WGIP through 153 innings and figures to continue working out of the bullpen in the postseason. Weston Wilson lost his spot on the playoff roster to make room for Lorenzen.

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• Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Notches first save

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Lorenzen struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save against the Mets on Sunday. Lorenzen was blasted for four runs while recording just one out in his first appearance out of the bullpen Sept. 19 but rebounded with his first save since 2021 on Sunday. He posted an ugly 7.96 ERA over his last five starts before being shifted to the bullpen. It's unclear exactly what role the Phillies intend to use Lorenzen in moving forward and in the postseason. He owns a 4.26 ERA through 150 innings and a 5.89 ERA in 44.1 frames with Philadelphia.

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• Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Filling piggyback role

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2023

  Lorenzen and Cristopher Sanchez will be used in a piggyback role Tuesday against Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. The Phillies may or may not have acquired Lorenzen at the deadline with the intention of using him in relief during the postseason, but his 7.96 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over his last five starts has certainly pushed him in that direction. Tuesday's outing could be a test for an arrangement the team hopes to use in the playoffs, with the left-handed Sanchez likely to throw a handful of innings before turning it over to the right-handed Lorenzen for a few more. Whether the setup is used more than once or if Lorenzen will move to a standard bullpen role following Tuesday's appearance is not yet clear.

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• Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Grabs win in nightcap

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Lorenzen (4-2) earned the win Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-5 victory over Atlanta. He struck out three. Lorenzen's final line could've looked much better if it wasn't for Matt Olson -- the first baseman drove in all four Atlanta runs with a pair of home runs. Still, Lorenzen pitched well enough to earn the win behind the Phillies' seven-run outburst. Since he no-hit the Nationals on Aug. 9, the 31-year-old Lorenzen has struggled to a 7.96 ERA in his subsequent five starts (26 innings). Overall, he sports a 4.06 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 107:43 K:BB across 25 starts (148.2 innings) between the Phillies and Tigers this season. Lorenzen's currently lined up for a rematch with Atlanta on the road in his next outing.

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• Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Struggles in San Diego

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Lorenzen (8-9) allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out one over six innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Padres. Lorenzen and Pedro Avila traded zeroes for the first three frames, but the Padres' offense came to life after that. Lorenzen was very good in his first two starts for the Phillies, but he's allowed 22 runs (19 earned) over his last four outings, spanning 21 innings. The right-hander is at a 3.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 104:41 K:BB through 143.2 innings across 24 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home in a difficult matchup versus Atlanta.

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