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Michael Lorenzen was chosen for the All-Star team as a member of the Detroit Tigers last season. He will make his season debut against them on Monday night when the Texas Rangers open a four-game series in Detroit.
The veteran right-hander will be activated from the 15-day injured list and make his Rangers debut. Lorenzen had a rehab start at Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, going 4 2/3 innings and throwing 89 pitches. Lorenzen, who was dealing with a neck injury during spring training, made three rehab starts at Round Rock. Lorenzen was a late signee, inking a one-year deal as a free agent on March 22.
“He’s going to help give the guys a break,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We have some versatility with a couple of guys in the rotation.”
Lorenzen’s presence in the rotation is needed, as Cody Bradford went on the injured list on Sunday due to a lower back strain.
The 26-year-old left-hander gave up just three earned runs and 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings this season while winning all three of his starts.
Lorenzen went 5-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts with the Tigers last season. He was then dealt to Philadelphia, where he made 11 more regular-season appearances, including throwing a no-hitter.
He’s made six appearances (one start) against Detroit in his career, going 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA.
Reese Olson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will get the start for the Tigers. In his season debut, Olson held the New York Mets scoreless in 5 2/3 innings.
His last outing didn’t go as smoothly, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Monday.
“Obviously, I didn’t do a good job getting ahead in counts,” Olson said. “Can’t be successful when you are doing that. … The main thing was falling behind in counts. I become a little more predictable and they took advantage of that.”
Olson gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings in his only career outing against the Rangers.
The Tigers salvaged a split in their four-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins thanks to a late rally. Spencer Torkelson’s go-ahead single capped a four-run eighth as they collected a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.
“It was tough to do anything against (Twins starter Bailey Ober),” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We needed any spark. A base hit would have been a spark at that point.”
They got the best base hit possible to start a rally as Javier Baez hit his first homer of the season. Mark Canha supplied a two-run double during the comeback.
It was not only Baez’s first long ball but his first extra-base hit of the season.
“I finally got one,” Baez said. “I’m still working. Today, I feel good. Yesterday, I felt good, too. Just need to be consistent every day and take it out there. I’ve been thinking too much. Once I slow everything down, I should be good.”
The Rangers lost the last two games of a three-game series against Houston. They trailed 8-2 entering the ninth on Sunday before falling 8-5.
“Our bats were a little quiet. It was good to see them wake up there in the ninth and make them bring the closer into the game but the damage was done,” Bochy said.
–Field Level Media