Lopez threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout in Tuesday's spring training win over Tampa Bay. It was his first outing since throwing three scoreless innings in three games for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
Lopez has looked sharp this spring between the WBC and Grapefruit League action (three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one walk). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't given any indications about how he plans to use his bullpen this spring, but Lopez figures to be in the mix for saves. While Jhoan Duran may be the best reliever, Baldelli usually runs his bullpen with disregard for the save statistic. Duran may be used in high-leverage matchups with Lopez pitching the ninth inning, for example. Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala could also figure into the mix to finish games. Lopez struggled with a 4.37 ERA and just a 18:14 K:BB in 22.2 innings after his trade to Minnesota, so it's encouraging to see him have a strong spring.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Avoids arbitration
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Lopez agreed to a one-year, $3.525 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Lopez had a 1.68 ERA with 19 saves for the Orioles last year before being dealt to the Twins at the trade deadline, but he labored after the trade with a 4.37 ERA. The 29-year-old still received a nice raise for his second season of arbitration eligibility in 2023, but his role is a bit in flux entering spring training after he failed to make a strong first impression with his new team, and he's likely behind Jhoan Duran in the pecking order for saves.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Falters in non-save situation
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Lopez (4-7) took the loss Friday versus the White Sox, allowing a run on two hits and a hit batter in two-thirds of an inning.
Lopez got one out with no trouble, but he allowed the next three batters aboard to load the bases. Jose Abreu then hit into a fielder's choice -- after a review ruled he wasn't hit by a pitch -- to tag Lopez with the loss. The 29-year-old reliever has gone 4-for-6 with a loss and four runs allowed in 11.2 innings as the Twins' closer after he was traded from the Orioles at the deadline. For the year, he owns a 1.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 63:21 K:BB with 23 saves in 29 chances.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Secures 23rd save
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Lopez struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save over the Red Sox on Monday.
Lopez needed just nine pitches to finish off the 4-2 victory. He picked up his first save since Aug. 19 and he's now converted 23 of his 29 chances this season. Lopez is sporting a 9:4 K:BB with a 2.45 ERA through 11 innings since joining the Twins.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Notches 22nd save on double play
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Lopez gave up two walks and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Friday.
Lopez put two men on board in a one-run game but managed to escape the inning to notch his 22nd save of the season with some help from his defense. Brad Miller scorched a 103.8 mph line drive to right field that was caught for the second out of the inning. Right fielder Max Kepler then threw to second base to double off pinch runner Charlie Culberson who misread the play. Lopez now has three saves and two blown saves since coming over to the Twins at the beginning of August and has a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances during that stretch.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Records 21st save Monday
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Lopez picked up the save in Monday's 4-2 win over the Royals. He allowed zero runs on two hits and zero walks while striking out one over one inning.
Lopez worked around a leadoff double in the ninth inning to convert his 21st save of the season. The scoreless effort was a welcome sight given that he had two blown saves in his previous four appearances. Despite looking shaky recently, Lopez's strong performance on the season is supported by his 90th percentile xSLG and 88th percentile xBA. He should continue recording saves for manager Rocco Baldelli's squad.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Blows another save
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Lopez allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning, taking a blown save in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Angels.
Lopez had a two-run lead to protect in the ninth inning, but he couldn't close it out. Magneuris Sierra hit a two-run, two-out triple to tie the game, though he was thrown out trying to turn it into an inside-the-park home run. That was enough to drop Lopez to 1-for-3 in save chances with the Twins since joining them at the trade deadline. The 29-year-old is 20-for-25 in saves overall when accounting for his time with the Orioles. He's added a 2.03 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 58:19 K:BB through 53.1 innings. There's been no indication that he's at risk of losing the closer role, but he'll need to steady things soon to avoid slipping into a committee.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Blows save Friday
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Lopez allowed a run on three hits in one inning in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.
Lopez allowed three singles, the last two of which came with two outs and allowed the Blue Jays to tie the game at 5-5. He's now 1-for-2 in save chances with the Twins, and Friday's stumble was his fifth blown save of the season. The right-hander has posted a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 50.1 innings while adding 20 saves and a 4-6 record. The former Oriole closer's performance this year should give him some leeway, but Michael Fulmer or Jhoan Duran figure to pick up save chances if Lopez needs a day off or enters a slump.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Strong in Twins debut
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Lopez didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one to record the save Wednesday against the Tigers.
Lopez wasted no time showcasing why the Twins chose to acquire him prior to the trade deadline, as he needed only seven pitches to record his 20th save of the season. Though Minnesota has used a committee to close out games for most of the season, Lopez should be in line to pick up the vast majority of chances moving forward. He has been excellent in the role, maintaining a 1.64 ERA and 55:17 K:BB across 49.1 frames on the season.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Shipped to Minnesota
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The Twins acquired Lopez from the Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for left-handers Cade Povich and Juan Rojas and right-handers Yennier Cano and Juan Nunez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Since dealing Taylor Rogers to the Padres on Opening Day, the Twins have taken a committee approach at closer, but Lopez should immediately step in as the team's clear-cut preferred option in save situations. A first-time All-Star this season, the right-handed Lopez turned in a 1.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 54:17 K:BB in 48.1 innings for Baltimore while converting 19 of his 23 save opportunities. With Lopez now in Minnesota, Felix Bautista becomes the top in-house option to take over as the Orioles' closer.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Handed loss Wednesday
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Lopez (4-6) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in one inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Rays on Wednesday.
Lopez put the first four batters he faced aboard, and Randy Arozarena had a two-run double during that Rays rally. The Orioles didn't have a second comeback push in them, leading to Lopez taking his first loss since July 2. This was only the fourth time all year the closer has allowed multiple walks in an outing. He has a 1.71 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB through 47.1 innings while going 19-for-23 in save chances.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Snags 19th save
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Lopez pitched a scoreless ninth inning, giving up one hit on his way to a save in the Orioles' 5-3 victory over the Rays on Tuesday.
Lopez was called upon to protect a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, and he registered three consecutive outs after allowing a leadoff single. The save was his 19th of the season and he has now converted six consecutive opportunities after blowing two saves in a row to open July. Overall on the season, Lopez is 19-for-23 on save chances and owns a sparkling 1.55 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 52 strikeouts over 46.1 innings in 42 appearances. The Orioles' decision to move him to the bullpen in 2022 is paying off greatly.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Collects 18th save
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Lopez allowed a hit and struck out one to earn the save in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Yankees.
Lopez had no trouble in protecting a three-run lead to convert his 18th save in 22 chances. He's returned to strong form lately, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two hit batsmen while striking out 10 over his last seven innings, earning five saves and a win in that span. The closer owns a 1.59 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 52:15 K:BB through 45.1 innings, and the Orioles' recent uptick in success has allowed him more opportunities to finish games.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Grabs win Saturday
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Lopez (4-5) picked up the extra-innings win Saturday over the Rays. He allowed an unearned run on one hit and a hit batsman and struck out three over two innings.
Lopez covered the ninth and 10th innings, though he allowed the Rays to pull even on a Ji-Man Choi single in the 10th. After starting July in shaky form, Lopez has recorded six straight innings without giving up an earned run, and he owns a stellar 9:0 K:BB in that stretch. He's still got excellent season numbers with a 1.62 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 51:15 K:BB in 44.1 innings while converting 17 of 21 save chances.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Notches 17th save
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Lopez registered the save during Tuesday's 4-2 win against the Cubs, striking out one in a perfect ninth.
Lopez made quick work of the middle of Chicago's lineup, retiring the side on 12 pitches to extend Baltimore's win streak to nine games. The 29-year-old has logged four saves in five appearances during the streak, surrendering one run while recording eight strikeouts during a combined five innings.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Earns save in close game
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Lopez picked up the save Saturday against the Angels, striking out two and hitting one batter over a scoreless inning.
Lopez earned his 16th save of the year by closing out the one-run game. He needed 16 pitches to get through the ninth inning. After beginning the month with back-to-back blown saves, Lopez has picked up three saves in his last three appearances, reducing his ERA to 1.74 in the process. Things seem to be moving in the right direction for the righty reliever.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Tallies 15th save
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Lopez allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Angels.
Lopez had little trouble holding a three-run lead to record his 15th save of the season. After stumbling through a three-appearance stretch early in July -- he allowed five earned runs across 1.1 innings -- Lopez has now turned in consecutive clean appearances to get back on track. He has been excellent for the majority of the campaign, maintaining a 1.79 ERA and 45:14 K:BB across 40.1 innings.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Blows save and picks up loss
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Lopez (3-5) blew the save and took the loss Saturday against the Twins, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out one and walking none over one-third of an inning.
Lopez allowed a home run to Jorge Polanco to tie the game, followed by a walk-off single to Jose Miranda that scored Alex Kirilloff, giving the reliever a blown save and a loss. Lopez now has a blown save and a loss in back-to-back appearances. Before giving up four earned runs in his last two appearances, the righty had not allowed an earned run since May 19. His ERA now sits at 1.69 after he had a 0.73 ERA at the end of June.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Can't protect lead Friday
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Lopez (3-4) allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out, taking the loss and a blown save in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Twins.
Lopez entered Friday with an 11.1-inning scoreless streak, but that ended with a walkoff two-run home run to Byron Buxton. This was the third time all year Lopez has allowed multiple runs in an appearance. He's been steady as the Orioles' closer with a 1.22 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 39:14 K:BB across 37 innings. Manager Brandon Hyde gave Lopez a vote of confidence by saying a potential save situation Saturday would go to the 29-year-old, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Converts 13th save
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Lopez pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Lopez pitched the sixth and final perfect inning of relief in a signature performance for the Orioles' bullpen Friday. He's converted 10 save chances in a row while allowing two unearned runs, five hits, one walk and two hit batters with 15 strikeouts in that 16-inning span. With a 0.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB across 36 innings, Lopez has ran with the closer role in Baltimore, and the team's 33-39 record has allowed him more save chances than other relievers have had in the recent past.
