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• Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Allows three runs in loss

  3D ago • By RotoWire

  Lorenzen (1-2) took the loss against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Lorenzen came up just short of a second consecutive quality start, allowing a run with two outs in the sixth inning before being lifted at 85 pitches. So far, the 33-year-old has pitched into the sixth and allowed three earned runs or fewer in all three of his starts. He'll take a 3.71 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB across 17 frames into a road matchup with the Tigers next week.

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• Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Mixed bag in season debut

  14D ago • By RotoWire

  Lorenzen (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in 5.1 innings Tuesday against the Brewers. He struck out seven. It was a mixed bag for Lorenzen, who did fan seven but also served up a solo homer to Eric Haase in the third inning. The right-hander worked into the sixth frame but watched Rhys Hoskins drive in a run on a single before he was lifted for Sam Long, who allowed one of Lorenzen's inherited runners to score. The veteran righty is next slated to take the mound early next week at home against Minnesota.

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• Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Back with KC on one-year deal

  01/06/2025 • By RotoWire

  The Royals re-signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The deal also includes a $12 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026. Lorenzen, 33, collected a 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:60 K:BB over 130.1 innings between the Rangers and Royals in 2024. He'll presumably begin the 2025 season in Kansas City's rotation, which would leave Alec Marsh and Kris Bubic competing for one spot. Lorenzen had been hoping to be used at designated hitter early in the season with the goal of earning a two-way roster designation, but that appears to be out the window now.

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• Michael Lorenzen: Aiming for two-way designation

  12/19/2024 • By RotoWire

  Lorenzen's agent, Ryan Hamill, is marketing his client as a two-way player this offseason, with the goal of gaining a two-way roster designation, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The only major league player to qualify for two-way status since it was introduced in 2020 is Shohei Ohtani. A player with the designation does not count against a team's 13-pitcher limit on their 26-man roster, effectively allowing them to serve as a 14th pitcher. Lorenzen's plan is to sign with a club -- likely a non-contender -- and then accrue 20-plus innings as a pitcher and play 20-plus games as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each game), which would meet the necessary criteria for two-way status. Gaining the two-way designation would, in theory, make Lorenzen an attractive trade target for a contending club keen on taking advantage of having an extra pitcher on their roster. Lorenzen has not hit in a major-league game since 2021 and hasn't had more than one plate appearance since 2019, but he boasts a career .710 OPS with seven home runs over 321 plate appearances. He was an effective rotation piece for the Rangers and Royals last year with a 3.31 ERA across 130.1 innings during the regular season.

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• Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Removal deemed precautionary

  09/26/2024 • By RotoWire

  Lorenzen left his start against Washington on Wednesday as a precaution due to lower-body fatigue. Lorenzen was activated off the injured list earlier Wednesday after missing the past month with a hamstring strain, so the Royals likely didn't want to push it once he reported discomfort on the mound in the third inning. The 32-year-old's abbreviated outing will presumably mark the end of his regular season, leaving him with a 3.37 ERA and 1.25 WHIP alongside a 94:60 K:BB across 25 appearances (24 starts), and he'll now look to prepare for the Royals' postseason run.

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