With an 80-68 record, the Kansas City Royals are firmly in the playoff hunt. The return of Michael Lorenzen from injury would further strengthen their pitching staff.
The right-hander made a rehab start for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out two, walked one, and threw 26 of his 38 pitches for strikes, according to MLB.com.
Although the stats may not look impressive, the significant development is that Lorenzen was able to make a rehab start at all. He was placed on the injured list in late August due to a hamstring injury and had been given a recovery timeline of two to three weeks. While there is still no specific return date, his rehab outing indicates he is nearing a comeback.
The Royals acquired Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers before the trade deadline, and in his five starts with Kansas City, he has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.85 ERA and a 17/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. While the team hopes he can reduce the number of walks, Lorenzen has proven to be a valuable addition so far.
The next step is to get him back on the field. The Royals currently hold a 2.5-game advantage over their rivals for the second Wild Card spot and are just 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Once Lorenzen returns to the mound, he will be expected to help carry the load and contribute to the Royals’ surprising playoff push.
Status of Royals’ pitching rotation
When Michael Lorenzen returns to Kansas City, he’ll be rejoining one of the league’s more formidable pitching rotations. The Royals currently sit 11th in ERA (3.89), have given up the second-fewest home runs (134), and rank ninth in fewest walks (417). With several breakout players, Kansas City’s rotation is proving to be quite compelling.
Seth Lugo has successfully transitioned to starting, earning his first All-Star nomination with a 16-8 record, a 2.94 ERA, and a 169/45 K/BB ratio. Following him is Cole Ragans, who also received All-Star honors in 2024, boasting an 11-9 record and a 3.33 ERA with a 204/57 K/BB ratio.
Meanwhile, Brady Singer has significantly improved from a 5.52 ERA in 2023 to 3.42 in 2024, with a K/BB ratio of 153/46. Veteran Michael Wacha has made a strong impact in his first season with the team, holding a 12-7 record and a 3.34 ERA alongside a 130/40 K/BB ratio.
Lorenzen is now in a position to join this talented group and contribute to the playoff push. The Royals brought him in for his versatility, experience, and strong performance. Now that he’s overcoming his injury, the team is counting on him to deliver as expected.
After struggling for a period, Kansas City has bounced back into contention, and Lorenzen is witnessing this revitalization up close. Both he and the team are eager for him to be an active participant in this resurgence.
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