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Lange (0-4) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Astros after allowing a run on one hit and a walk across 1.2 innings. He struck out one.
The right-hander replaced Matt Strahm in the top of the eighth inning and retired Jake Meyers and Brice Matthews to keep the game tied. However, Lange couldn't do it again in the ninth and allowed the game-winning run on an RBI groundout from Christian Walker. Lange enjoyed a run of nine straight appearances without allowing a run between May 20 and June 9, but he's given up three over his last two outings (2.2 innings) since moving into a higher-leverage role. He owns a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season across 32.2 frames.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Strengthens grasp on closer role
Rotowire
Lange earned a save against the Rangers on Tuesday, walking one batter and striking out two over one scoreless inning.
Lange was called upon to close things out with Kansas City up by two runs in the ninth inning. The right-hander threw just 10 of 19 pitches for strikes, hurled a wild pitch and walked a batter, but he also struck out the final two batters he faced and got out of the frame without allowing any runs. Lange now has four of the Royals' past five saves and is clearly the team's preferred ninth-inning option. He's earned that role by registering nine consecutive scoreless outings. Since April 22, Lange has a 1.77 ERA and 17:10 K:BB over 20.1 innings spanning 20 appearances.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Notches third save
Rotowire
Lange gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Twins.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro suggested earlier this week that he would be playing matchups in closing situations while Lucas Erceg worked through his struggles, but since then Lange has gotten three straight saves, with Saturday's coming when Kody Clemens, a left-handed power hitter, was leading off the ninth for the Twins and representing the tying run. Lange has been scored upon just once in his last 12 appearances, posting a 0.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB in 12 innings, and he appears to have seized the top spot in the Kansas City bullpen.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Records second save Thursday
Rotowire
Lange earned the save Thursday against the Twins, allowing one hit and one walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
With Kansas City recently shifting toward a matchup-based approach in the ninth inning, Lange was called upon again to protect a two-run lead. The right-hander worked around a hit and a walk, allowing the potential winning run to come to the plate before inducing a game-ending groundout from Brooks Lee to secure his second save of the season and his second in as many days. Lange has been effective lately, holding opponents scoreless in 10 of his last 11 appearances, and he could continue to see additional save opportunities if the Royals stick with their current committee approach. He owns a 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 28:15 K:BB across 28 innings.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Holds on for first save
Rotowire
Lange secured the save Wednesday against the Reds, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
After closer Lucas Erceg blew his sixth save of the season Tuesday, Lange converted his first save chance Wednesday but did allow the potential tying run to get to the plate. The Royals figure to continue exploring their ninth-inning options, at least until Carlos Estevez (shoulder) makes his way back into the bullpen mix. Lange has a lackluster 4.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB over 27 innings.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Scoreless inning in loss
Rotowire
Lange allowed two hits and struck out two in one inning Thursday in the 10-9 loss to the Tigers.
Lange, the Tigers' leader in saves back in 2023, struggled mightily in 2024 largely due to command issues (17 walks in 18.2 innings) before being demoted to the minors. The 30-year-old missed the majority of last season with a lat injury, pitching only one time, but he signed with the Royals this offseason to slot in as a serviceable middle reliever. Kansas City has deployed Lange in a low-leverage role, as he's yet to earn a win or a hold to this point, but his performance has been trending in a positive direction (1.42 ERA over his last 6.1 innings).
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Royals' Alex Lange: Scoreless spring outing
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Lange allowed a hit and a walk across 1.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the White Sox. He struck out one.
The right-hander entered in relief of Cole Ragans with two outs in the fourth inning and closed the frame with no damage before firing a scoreless fifth inning that included a strikeout of Colson Montgomery. Lange has had an iffy spring, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks across seven innings, though he has recorded nine strikeouts. Coming off a pair of injury-riddled seasons with the Tigers that saw him throw a combined 19.2 innings at the MLB level over the past two campaigns, Lange is competing for one of the final bullpen spots with the Royals after signing a one-year deal with the club in November.
The Royals are signing Lange to a one-year contract, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lange spent his first five major-league seasons with Detroit and had his best year in 2023, when he logged 26 saves in 32 chances. However, the right-hander struggled in 2024 and was eventually sent down to the minors before suffering a season-ending lat surgery. The injury lingered into last season, and Lange pitched just one inning for the Tigers while spending most of the time after his recovery in Triple-A. Detroit released Lange on Tuesday, and he'll now get a chance to earn a role in the Royals' bullpen.
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Alex Lange: Released by Tigers
Rotowire
The Tigers released Lange on Tuesday.
Lange passed through waivers after being designated for assignment and has now been cut loose. The 30-year-old led the Tigers with 26 saves in 2023 but dealt with injuries the last two seasons, most notably requiring right lat surgery. Lange is healthy now, and he could land a major-league deal with a new organization.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Tigers designated Lange for assignment Wednesday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Dugan Darnell (hip). Lange recorded 26 saves for the Tigers in 2023 but was limited the last two seasons due to June 2024 right lat surgery. The 30-year-old has a career 27.2 percent strikeout rate but also a 13.5 percent walk rate. Lange is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and should draw interest on waivers.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was reinstated from the 60-day IL this week and delivered a scoreless frame in his first MLB appearance since May of 2024, but he won't retain his spot in Detroit's bullpen. Drew Sommers was called up Friday to fill Lange's place on the roster.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Ready for 2025 debut
Rotowire
The Tigers reinstated Lange (lat) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Lange will return to the Detroit bullpen for the first time since May 2024, after facing a long road back from the right lat surgery he underwent last July. The right-handed reliever has experienced a couple setbacks this season and had been pulled off a rehab assignment shortly before the All-Star break, but he returned to action for Triple-A Toledo on July 20 and allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings over his final seven appearances to earn himself another opportunity with the big club. The Tigers opened up a spot in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster for Lange by optioning left-hander Bailey Horn to Triple-A.
Lange (lat) made rehab appearances for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday and Wednesday, allowing a run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts across 1.2 innings of work.
The next step in Lange's recovery from June 2024 surgery to address a right lat avulsion is to pitch in consecutive games, something he hasn't done yet in 2025. The righty is at least trending in the right direction, but given his long layoff as well as strong seasons from Detroit relievers Will Vest, Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter, Lange may have a hard time making much of an impact at the MLB level this year.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Resuming rehab stint
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Lange (lat) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday as part of his rehab assignment, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Lange was pulled off his rehab assignment July 8 with mild tightness in his right lat, but he's been cleared to resume his minor-league stint. He made seven appearances before being pulled off the assignment, allowing one run over 6.2 innings. The 29-year-old has yet to make his 2025 debut, but it looks like he's getting close.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Pulled off rehab assignment
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Lange has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to mild tightness in his surgically repaired right lat, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that "it's not a setback" with Lange, but "just a delay." Lange has allowed just one run with a 9:1 K:BB over 6.2 rehab innings and seems close to activation from the 60-day injured list, but now his timeline is up in the air.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Sharp in rehab appearance
Rotowire
Lange (lat) tossed a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts to begin the next phase of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.
Lange was shut down for the season last June after undergoing surgery on his right lat, and he's been on the 60-day injured list since the offseason, so the Tigers will likely proceed cautiously with his rehab program. He started his assignment by making two appearances for High-A West Michigan earlier this month and will now spend some time with the Mud Hens ramping up. The righty could eventually give Detroit another arm for its bullpen, though his struggles with control persisted in 2024, walking 17 batters in 18.2 major-league innings before eventually getting demoted to Triple-A and then getting injured. He's walked at least four batters per nine innings in each of his four MLB seasons and will need to improve in that area to stick with the Tigers.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Cleared for rehab games
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Lange (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Lange had right lat surgery last July and had to be shut down back in April because of upper-arm inflammation. However, he has progressed well since the latter injury and is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how long his layoff has been, Lange's rehab assignment figures to last a few weeks.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Cleared to face hitters
Rotowire
Lange (lat) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Lange appears to be nearing a rehab assignment as he recovers from right lat surgery and more recently upper-arm inflammation. The reliever has not pitched in a game in nearly a year, so his rehab assignment will likely be a lengthy one.
