Lange earned the save Friday against the Cardinals after a scoreless one-third of an inning, allowing one hit. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.
Lange entered the game with two outs and a three-run lead, but he tossed a wild pitch and later gave up a two-run single to Blaze Jordan. However, Lange would close the game out by retiring Jose Fermin. Since Carlos Estevez has dealt with ankle, foot and shoulder injuries and is currently on the 60-day IL, Lange doesn't have much competition for the closer role. Even though he clinched the save here, Lange has given up three runs (two earned) on four hits with a 2:3 K:BB over four innings in his last four appearances.
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Royals' Alex Lange: Tagged with loss Saturday
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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
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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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Alex Lange: Released by Tigers
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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: Sent to Triple-A
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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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Resumes rehab stint
Rotowire
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: Cleared to face hitters
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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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Set to throw bullpen
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Lange (lat) is scheduled to complete a bullpen session Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Lange was shut down from throwing after experiencing upper-arm inflammation back in early April, but the issue seems to have subsided. The 29-year-old will likely have to complete multiple bullpen sessions before being cleared to face hitters and eventually go on a rehab assignment. He's recovering from lat surgery he underwent in July.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: In midst of shutdown period
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Lange (lat) has been shut down from throwing temporarily and will complete a period of rest after he recently experienced increased upper-arm inflammation, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Lange is in the midst of a rehab program for the right lat surgery he underwent last June, so it's less than ideal that he's contending with another arm-related issue during the ramp-up process. On the positive side, Lange wasn't recommended any further treatment for the arm inflammation after seeking multiple medical opinions, so the Tigers are hopeful that rest will be enough to resolve the issue. A timeline for Lange's return likely won't be established until he reaches the point in his rehab that he's facing live hitters, but he won't be available to make his 2025 Tigers debut until at least late May after being placed on the 60-day injured list during spring training.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Tigers placed Lange (lat) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Lange hasn't suffered any setbacks since beginning a throwing program in December and has worked up to throwing off a mound twice per week. Still, he will need a while yet before he is ready to return from lat surgery. His roster spot will be given to John Brebbia, who signed a one-year deal with the Tigers on Wednesday.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Throwing off mound
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Lange (lat) is throwing two bullpen sessions per week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Lange underwent right lat surgery last July. It's uncertain when he might be ready to pitch in games, but he would appear to have a good shot to be ready for Opening Day. Lange will be competing for a spot in the Tigers' bullpen, though he does have minor-league options remaining.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: On outside looking in?
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Lange (lat) may not make Detroit's Opening Day bullpen, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Participates in throwing program
Rotowire
Lange (lat) is playing catch from 120 feet, three times per week.
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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Serious injury feared
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Demoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Snags second save
Rotowire
Lange earned the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Cardinals, recording two strikeouts and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings.
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.
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Tigers' Alex Lange: Looks better Thursday
Rotowire
Lange tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in a Thursday Grapefruit League contest against the Blue Jays, lowering his spring ERA to 12.00.
Lange has pitched in three Grapefruit League games and this was his first time not allowing a run. It's not a great start to spring training for the righty, though he figures to have a fairly firm hold on Detroit's closer role heading into the regular season. Lange recorded 26 saves last year and had 79 strikeouts across 66 innings, though he struggled with command at times, walking a whopping 45 batters.
