60DAlex Lange RP DET Mon 2/10/25 8:57 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange (lat) may not make Detroit's Opening Day bullpen, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Tigers have added some pitching depth in the offseason, including Tommy Kahnle, who figures to secure a bullpen spot out of the gates. Kenta Maeda may also shift to the bullpen, with Alex Cobb added to the rotation. These developments could push Lange out, especially because he's recovering from June lat surgery and still has minor-league options remaining. The righty led Detroit with 26 saves just two years ago but has seemingly fallen out of favor. Control has always been an issue for Lange, and he walked 17 batters in only 18.2 MLB innings last season, making him a risky bullpen option.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Mon 12/9/24 8:23 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange (lat) is playing catch from 120 feet, three times per week.
EDGE Analysis
Lange underwent surgery on his right lat in June, which forced him to miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign. The right-hander's ability to be playing catch at this point is a positive sign for his chances to participate in spring training in a couple months. Lange appeared in 21 games out of the bullpen with Detroit last season, producing a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 21 strikeouts over 18.2 innings and he figures to operate in a similar role in 2025.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Sun 6/30/24 3:41 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Triple-A Toledo placed Lange (lat) on its full-season injured list Friday.
EDGE Analysis
The transaction confirms that the surgery Lange underwent this past week to address a right lat avulsion was indeed season-ending. Though the right-handed reliever is currently on the minor-league IL, the Tigers could recall him and place him on the major-league 60-day IL if the team needs to open up a spot on the 40-man roster at any point. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Lange is optimistic that he'll be back to full health for the start of spring training in 2025.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Tue 6/18/24 5:55 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange (upper body) suffered a right lat avulsion and is scheduled to undergo surgery next week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
Lange recently suffered an upper-body injury in his appearance with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, which is now understood to be a right lat injury. The 28-year-old opened the 2024 campaign in Detroit's major-league bullpen before being sent down in late May, compiling a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 21 strikeouts over 18.2 innings in 21 appearances with the Tigers. An exact timetable for Lange's return will likely be provided following the surgery, but he's set to be placed on the minor-league injured list in the near future.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Sat 6/15/24 8:33 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange was removed from an appearance at Triple-A Toledo on Friday due to an upper-body injury, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
Lange made the Tigers' Opening Day roster and owned a 4.34 ERA in 18.2 innings before being sent to Toledo. He signaled to the dugout immediately after throwing a pitch Saturday and was grabbing at his side. Lange underwent an MRI on Saturday, and while the Tigers have yet to reveal the results of the test, early indications are that Lange sustained a severe injury.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Thu 5/23/24 2:57 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
The Tigers optioned Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
EDGE Analysis
A day after allowing four earned runs in one inning during Wednesday's loss to the Royals, Lange will be sent to Triple-A in order to get back on track. The 28-year-old owns a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP alongside a 21:17 K:BB through 18.2 innings this season, and he figures to return to Detroit's bullpen once he starts turning in promising results with Toledo. In the meantime, Mason Englert will come up from Triple-A to take Lange's place.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Wed 5/8/24 10:36 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange (0-2) allowed an unearned run on one hit to take the loss in Wednesday's 5-4, 10-inning contest against the Guardians.
EDGE Analysis
After recording the final out of the ninth inning, Lange had the unenviable task of pitching the bottom of the 10th with a runner starting on second base. The righty retired the first batter but then allowed a walk-off hit to Brayan Rocchio. There shouldn't be too much read into the loss, and Lange has pitched well all season, as he's sitting with a stellar 0.64 ERA across 14 innings. Lange should continue to see high-leverage work for the Tigers moving forward, and he could slide back into the closer role at some point if he keeps up the strong play.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Wed 5/1/24 4:05 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange earned the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Cardinals, recording two strikeouts and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings.
EDGE Analysis
Lange struck out Willson Contreras for the final out in the eighth inning before closing the door in the ninth, working around a two-out walk to Paul Goldschmidt for his second save this season. Jason Foley was likely unavailable Wednesday after pitching three of the last four days, though Lange has continued to pitch well in a set-up role -- he's held opponents scoreless in his last 7.2 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out nine in that span. The 28-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 0.75 with a 1.17 WHIP 16:9 K:BB across 12 innings this season.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Sat 4/13/24 4:42 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange (0-1) allowed five unearned runs to take the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. He walked two and retired two batters via strikeout.
EDGE Analysis
Lange didn't allow any hits or earned runs, but it still wasn't a great performance. Coming on in the top of the 12th inning with a runner on second, the righty walked the first hitter he faced. Later in the frame, Lange walked in a run with the bases loaded. The big blow came a few batters later, when a Zach McKinstry fielding error with the bases loaded led to three more runs. While Lange sits with a solid 2.08 ERA, free passes continue to be a big problem, as he now has seven of them this year in just 4.1 innings. Lange will need to cut down on the walks if he wants to earn trust in high-leverage spots. He also tossed a whopping 36 pitches in the uneven appearance, so he likely won't be available for the nightcap.
60DAlex Lange RP DET Fri 4/5/24 5:40 PM
60DAlex Lange
RP DET
Lange earned the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the A's, striking out the lone batter he faced in a third of an inning.
EDGE Analysis
Andrew Chafin was brought on to start the ninth, but he allowed a pair of walks before Lange was brought in to face the right-handed Zack Gelof, who he struck out on four pitches. It's the first save of the season for Lange, who was initially expected to serve as Detroit's primary ninth-inning option. However, it appears that the Tigers will opt for a modified closing committee, with Jason Foley (who pitched the eighth Friday) as the preferred option. Lange converted 26 of 32 save chances last season, pitching to a 3.68 ERA with 79:45 K:BB across 66 innings.