Alex Lange - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Notches save No. 10 Lange gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 10th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

Impact The 30-year-old right-hander has had a rough July, getting tagged for eight earned runs in 5.2 innings across six appearances to leave him with a bloated 6.00 ERA on the season, but Lange continues to hold down the fort as the Royals' closer. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) remains without a clear timeline for his return, but with Kansas City likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, the biggest threat to Lange's save total might be the chance he gets dealt to a contender and lands in a lower-leverage role.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nick Loftin and Salvador Perez hit late-inning home runs as Royals rally to beat Tigers 3-2

Nick Loftin hit a tie-breaking home run in the ninth inning as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Records ninth save Lange recorded the season Tuesday against the Giants, striking out two and walking one over a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Lange was deployed in the ninth inning, protecting a one-run lead and worked around a Jung Hoo Lee walk by striking out two to secure his ninth save. While the clean outing helped quiet some recent concerns, he's likely not out of the woods as Kansas City's preferred ninth-inning option. The right-hander blew the save in each of his first two appearances following the All-Star break, which came on the heels of a pair of five-run meltdowns to close the first half. Lange now owns a 6.15 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 41:23 K:BB across 41 innings this season.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Avila and Loftin power the Royals to a 3-2 win over the Giants

Luinder Avila struck out a career-high seven and Nick Loftin hit a tiebreaking RBI single as the Kansas City Royals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Tuesday night

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Can't close out Giants Lange (1-5) blew a save but was credited with the win Monday against San Francisco. He gave up two runs on two hits and struck out two batters over one inning.

Impact Lange entered in the ninth frame with Kansas City up 3-1. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but the Giants then strung together a single and a homer to tie the contest. Lange was able to get the third out, and he ultimately notched the victory when KC walked it off in the bottom of the inning. It was the second straight blown save for Lange after he was successful in each of his first eight save attempts this season. He's given up eight runs across his past three outings spanning 2.2 frames, so his hold on the closer role may be getting weaker.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Loftin's squeeze bunt in the ninth gives the Royals a 4-3 victory over the Giants

Nick Loftin’s squeeze bunt with one out in the ninth inning scored Josh Rojas to give the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night

6 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Takes first blown save Lange blew the save Friday, allowing one run on one hit in the ninth inning in Friday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Padres.

Impact After being called upon to protect the 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, Lange retired the first two batters he faced before being taken deep by Ty France for the game-tying solo home run, resulting in his first blown save of the season. The 30-year-old has been very shaky in his last seven games for Kansas City, recording an 18.56 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 2:3 K:BB in 5.1 innings. The Royals have had trouble closing games this season, with Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm and Daniel Lynch all having multiple blown saves on the campaign.

JULY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Jared Young hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, ignites a 5-run eighth as Mets beat Royals 6-2

Jared Young was plunked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, sparking a five-run rally that lifted the New York Mets to a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals

JULY 9 • Associated Press

Locks down eighth save Lange earned the save Sunday against the Phillies, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.

Impact Lange was called upon to protect a three-run lead and needed just 11 pitches to retire Philadelphia in order for his eighth save of the season. He has now converted four saves over his last five appearances. Lange owns a 4.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 37:21 K:BB across 37.1 innings, and he should continue to serve as the primary closer option with Carlos Estevez (shoulder) needing further evaluation before planning any return.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Perez drives in 2 as the Royals beat the Phillies 5-2 to end a 4-game losing streak

Salvador Perez drove in two runs, Luinder Avile went five innings, and the Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies

JULY 5 • Associated Press

Grabs seventh save Lange earned the save Sunday against the White Sox, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

Impact Lange was called upon to protect a one-run lead and needed just 10 pitches to retire Chicago in order, locking down his seventh save of the season. It was an encouraging bounce-back after he was tagged for five runs while recording just one out in his previous appearance. Despite the uneven results recently, Lange appears to have a firm grip on Kansas City's primary closer role. He now owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

JUNE 29 • ROTOWIRE

Carter Jensen extends his hitting streak as the Royals avoid sweep in 5-4 win over the White Sox

Carter Jensen extended his franchise-record rookie hitting streak to 19 games and five Kansas City Royals relievers held the Chicago White Sox scoreless for five innings to end a f...

JUNE 28 • Associated Press

Slams door for sixth save Lange secured the save Monday against the Rays, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out one.

Impact Since taking over as Kansas City's primary closer, Lange been very effective on the mound. The 30-year-old right-hander has successfully converted each of his last six save opportunities, giving up just two earned runs across 10 innings during the month of June so far. With Lucas Erceg being unreliable and Carlos Estevez (shoulder) still on the shelf, Lange is solidifying his hold as the club's favorite for saves.

JUNE 23 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Wacha fires 7 quality innings to spur Royals to 2-1 victory in Tampa Bay

Michael Wacha allowed one run over seven strong innings while Lane Thomas and Carter Jensen had RBIs to push the Kansas City Royals past the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Monday night

JUNE 23 • Associated Press

Records fifth save of season Lange earned the save Friday against the Cardinals after a scoreless one-third of an inning, allowing one hit.

Impact 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, he 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. His recent results haven't been the best, though. Even though he clinched the save here, he has given up three runs (two earned )on four hits and a 2:3 K:BB over 4.0 innings in his last four appearances.

JUNE 20 • ROTOWIRE

Caglianone, Lugo lead Royals past Cardinals 6-5, to clinch series

Jac Caglianone hit a home run and drove in two as the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 to clinch the three-game series and snap a three-series losing streak

JUNE 20 • Associated Press

Tagged with loss Saturday 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.

Impact Lange entered the game at the top of the eighth inning and retired Jake Meyers and Brice Matthews to keep the game tied. However, he couldn't do it in the ninth and allowed the game-winning run when Joey Loperfido crossed home plate 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). He owns a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP so far this season across 32.2 frames.

JUNE 14 • ROTOWIRE

Astros rally past Royals 8-7 after Altuve ties it and a ninth-inning miscue

Jose Altuve hit a tying home run in the eighth inning, Joey Loperfido scored the go-ahead run when the Royals botched a potential inning-ending double play in the ninth, and the Ho...

JUNE 14 • Associated Press

Díaz and Burger lead the Rangers to a 6-4 win over the Royals in 10 innings

Elias Díaz hit a go-ahead double in the 10th inning as the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-4

JUNE 11 • Associated Press

Strengthens grasp on closer role Lange earned a save against the Rangers on Tuesday, walking one batter and striking out two over one scoreless inning.

Impact 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.

JUNE 10 • ROTOWIRE

Jac Caglianone homers twice for the Royals in a 5-3 win over the Rangers

Jac Caglianone went 3 for 3 with two home runs and three RBIs as the Kansas City Royals erased an early deficit to defeat the Texas Rangers 5-3

JUNE 10 • Associated Press

Notches third save 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.

Impact 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.

JUNE 7 • ROTOWIRE

Witt's RBI single caps ninth-inning comeback as Royals beat Twins 3-2

Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins

JUNE 6 • Associated Press

Records second save Thursday Lange earned the save Thursday against the Twins, allowing one hit and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact 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.

JUNE 5 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Rojas has go-ahead, 2-run single as pinch hitter in Royals debut as Kansas City tops Twins 8-6

Pinch-hitter Josh Rojas had a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning in his Kansas City debut and the Royals outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6

JUNE 5 • Associated Press

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