JORGE LÓPEZ NEWS

Recent struggles continue Lopez allowed two runs on two hits and one walk and didn't record an out Wednesday against the Astros.

Impact Lopez's recent struggles continue as he had a 9.00 ERA (11 ER in 11 IP) with a 9:7 K:BB ratio and three hit batters in May. The Twins used him in a low-leverage spot in a blowout to try and get him right and he still struggled. Lopez may be relegated to the bottom of the bullpen until he shows signs of progress.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

May struggles continue Lopez allowed three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, without retiring a batter in Saturday's 9-7 victory over the Blue Jays.

Impact Lopez had a strong start to the season with 12 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk before May. Since May 2, Lopez has struggled with two losses, three blown saves and an 8.10 ERA in 10 innings. The Twins may need to move him to lower-leverage work until he gets back on track.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Converts third save Lopez earned a save against the Padres on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Jhoan Duran may have been unavailable for the Twins on Thursday after tossing two innings (but only 17 pitches) Wednesday, so the team turned to Lopez to protect a two-run ninth-inning lead. The veteran right-hander didn't disappoint, fanning two of the three batters he faced in a perfect frame. Lopez has been excellent in his first full season with the Twins, allowing just three earned runs and posting a 13:4 K:BB over 17 innings. He has three saves on the season, but Duran has been outstanding as well and remains the team's primary closer.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Escapes with save Lopez allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn a save over Kansas City on Friday. He struck out one and hit one batter.

Impact Lopez loaded the bases with two outs but worked through the danger to finish off the 8-6 win. He has yet to give up an earned run or a walk through 11.2 innings this season. Lopez has converted both of his save chances while going 1-0 with five holds. Jhoan Duran (personal) was not available Friday.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Trouble ahead for Twins? Can they score enough runs when pitching cools off? Reinforcements should bolster the lineup soon, but will they be enough to offset a likely pitching regression?

APRIL 19, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Continues scoreless streak Lopez threw a scoreless sixth inning with a strikeout Tuesday against the Red Sox. He's thrown 7.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks this season.

Impact Lopez is having an outstanding start to the season with the only negative being that Johan Duran looks like the primary closer. Lopez does have one save, but so far it looks like he'll be used to close games only when Duran is unavailable rather than more of a committee. Still, manager Rocco Baldelli has managed his bullpen without regard for the save statistic in the past.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first save of season Lopez hurled a scoreless inning with a strikeout while picking up a save Saturday against the Royals.

Impact Lopez worked in the seventh inning in the opener, but the right-hander was tasked with picking up the save for Saturday's affair. He needed just eight pitches to get through the lineup -- six of those for strikes -- and looked like the pitcher that made him such a solid option for the first half of the 2022 campaign with Baltimore. Jhoan Duran is going to get his save chances as well, so this will be a difficult situation for fantasy players at least to begin 2023.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Works in seventh inning Lopez did not allow a run or hit while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning Thursday's win against the Royals to record his first hold.

Impact It was notable that Lopez was used in the seventh inning with Griffin Jax in the eighth and Jhoan Duran for the save in the ninth. Manager Rocco Baldelli has managed his bullpen without regard for the save statistic in the past, but Thursday's game looked like a textbook use of Duran as the closer. Still, Duran may be used earlier in the game in high-leverage spots and not on multiple days, so Lopez could still be a factor for saves. However, after one game Lopez's prospects for saves may not look as good as previously thought.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MLB 26-and-under power rankings: No. 3 Baltimore Orioles

With a loaded farm and young hitting talent already making waves in the majors, the Orioles check in near the top of our 26-and-under power...

MARCH 23, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Continues sharp spring Lopez threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout in Tuesday's spring training win over Tampa Bay. It was his first outing since throwing three scoreless innings in three games for P...

Impact Lopez has looked sharp this spring between the WBC and Grapefruit League action (three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one walk). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't given any indications about how he plans to use his bullpen this spring, but Lopez figures to be in the mix for saves. While Jhoan Duran may be the best reliever, Baldelli usually runs his bullpen with disregard for the save statistic. Duran may be used in high-leverage matchups with Lopez pitching the ninth inning, for example. Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala could also figure into the mix to finish games. Lopez struggled with a 4.37 ERA and just a 18:14 K:BB in 22.2 innings after his trade to Minnesota, so it's encouraging to see him have a strong spring.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration Lopez agreed to a one-year, $3.525 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lopez had a 1.68 ERA with 19 saves for the Orioles last year before being dealt to the Twins at the trade deadline, but he labored after the trade with a 4.37 ERA. The 29-year-old still received a nice raise for his second season of arbitration eligibility in 2023, but his role is a bit in flux entering spring training after he failed to make a strong first impression with his new team, and he's likely behind Jhoan Duran in the pecking order for saves.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Twins got Carlos Correa back, but are they better?

The Twins unexpectedly landed their top free-agent target. But do they have enough pitching for it to matter in 2023?

JANUARY 12, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Notches 22nd save on double play Lopez gave up two walks and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Friday.

Impact Lopez put two men on board in a one-run game but managed to escape the inning to notch his 22nd save of the season with some help from his defense. Brad Miller scorched a 103.8 mph line drive to right field that was caught for the second out of the inning. Right fielder Max Kepler then threw to second base to double off pinch runner Charlie Culberson who misread the play. Lopez now has two saves and two blown saves since coming over to the Twins at the beginning of August and has a 4.50 ERA in six appearances during that stretch.

AUGUST 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Records 21st save Monday Lopez picked up the save in Monday's 4-2 win over the Royals. He allowed zero runs on two hits and zero walks while striking out one over one inning.

Impact Lopez worked around a leadoff double in the ninth inning to convert his 21st save of the season. The scoreless effort was a welcome sight given that he had two blown saves in his previous four appearances. Despite looking shaky recently, Lopez's strong performance on the season is supported by his 90th percentile xSLG and 88th percentile xBA. He should continue recording saves for Rocco Baldelli's squad.

AUGUST 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Blows another save Lopez allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning, taking a blown save in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Angels.

Impact Lopez had a two-run lead to protect in the ninth inning, but he couldn't close it out. Magneuris Sierra hit a two-run, two-out triple to tie the game, though he was thrown out trying to turn it into an inside-the-park home run. That was enough to drop Lopez to 1-for-3 in save chances with the Twins since joining them at the trade deadline. The 29-year-old is 20-for-25 in saves overall when accounting for his time with the Orioles. He's added a 2.03 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 58:19 K:BB through 53.1 innings. There's been no indication that he's at risk of losing the closer role, but he'll need to steady things soon to avoid slipping into a committee.

AUGUST 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Twins' Puerto Rican contingent thriving after Jorge Lopez acquisition With three active Puerto Rican players, plus Jovani Moran in St. Paul, camaraderie in the Twins clubhouse is a point of pride.

AUGUST 14, 2022 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Three reasons the Minnesota Twins will win the AL Central

After a disappointing 2021, Carlos Correa and the Twins are the favorites to win the AL Central this season, Pedro Moura writes.

AUGUST 11, 2022 • FOX SPORTS

MLB odds: Surprise team moves into playoff contention, huge liability

O! Despite trading away players at the deadline, Baltimore is in the thick of the wild-card race, and a huge liability for sportsbooks.

AUGUST 10, 2022 • FOX SPORTS

Takes blown save Friday Lopez allowed a run on three hits in one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.

Impact Lopez allowed three singles, the last two of which came with two outs and allowed the Blue Jays to tie the game at 5-5. He's now 1-for-2 in save chances with the Twins, and Friday's mistake was his fifth blown save of the season. The right-hander has posted a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 50.1 innings while adding 20 saves and a 4-6 record. Lopez's track record this year should give him some leeway, while Michael Fulmer or Jhoan Duran figure to pick up save chances if he needs a day off or enters a slump.

AUGUST 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Strong in Twins debut Lopez didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one to record the save Wednesday against the Tigers.

Impact Lopez wasted no time showcasing why the Twins chose to acquire him prior to the trade deadline, as he needed only seven pitches to record his 20th save of the season. Though Minnesota has used a committee to close out games for most of the season, Lopez should be in line to pick up the vast majority of chances moving forward. He has been excellent in the role, maintaining a 1.64 ERA and 55:17 K:BB across 49.1 frames on the season.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MLB Trade Deadline: Ranking all 50 moves since All-Star break

After a frenzied MLB Trade Deadline, Jordan Shusterman ranks all 50 trades that were completed since the All-Star Break.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • FOX SPORTS

Twins defeat Tigers as three new players contribute to 4-1 win Sandy Leon lined a two-run double in his first twins at-bat before Michael Fuimer pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Jorge Lopez got the s...

AUGUST 3, 2022 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins acquire pitchers Jorge Lopez, Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline Finding pitching help, both among the starters and within the bullpen, was a priority as the Twins gear up for the playoffs.

AUGUST 2, 2022 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins get All-Star closer Jorge Lopez from Orioles for four minor-leaguers MINNEAPOLIS — As most baseball players would be around 9 a.m. the day of a night game, Jorge Lopez was sleeping when his phone ringing woke...

AUGUST 2, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM