Lorenzen was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against the Mets due to an illness.
Lorenzen's illness will put an early end to his first half, and he'll carry a 4.61 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP through 99.2 innings into the All-Star break. While he recovers, Angel Zerpa will start on the mound Saturday in what is likely to be a bullpen game for the Royals.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Impresses in fifth win
Rotowire
Lorenzen (5-8) earned the win in Sunday's game at Arizona, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The Kansas City right-hander produced an astounding 17 whiffs in this 82-pitch outing to tally his first win since June 8. With this performance, Lorenzen notched his seventh quality start of the season and matched his season best with seven Ks, a mark he reached four times prior to Sunday. The 33-year-old lowered his season ERA from 4.95 to 4.61 across 99.2 frames to go with a 1.30 WHIP and 85:29 K:BB. Lorenzen currently lines up to make his next start against the Mets at home next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Allows two homers in loss
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Lorenzen (4-8) took the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Lorenzen was on track for a quality start before giving up back-to-back solo homers in the sixth inning. While the 33-year-old didn't issue a walk for the first time in eight starts, he's now surrendered 16 home runs across 16 outings this season. He'll carry a 4.91 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 73:28 K:BB over 88 innings into a road matchup with the Mariners next week.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Suffers seventh loss
Rotowire
Lorenzen (4-7) took the loss Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out four.
The right-hander was burned by extra-base hits with men on base, surrendering a two-run homer to Max Muncy in the second inning and an RBI double to Luis Urias in the fourth inning. Lorenzen has endured a rough stretch of late, posting a 7.40 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 24.1 innings across his past five starts. Cole Ragans' shoulder injury slightly thins the Royals' rotation depth, but Lorenzen will still need to elevate his performance to retain his spot.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Strikes out seven in win
Rotowire
Lorenzen (4-6) earned the win against the White Sox on Sunday, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts over six innings.
The only hit Lorenzen allowed was a two-run homer in the first inning, but he bounced back with five straight scoreless frames to notch his first win since April 29. The 33-year-old generated 14 whiffs on 92 pitches in a much-needed strong effort after surrendering 13 earned runs over his previous two outings. He'll take a 4.94 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 61:22 K:BB across 71 innings into a home matchup with the Athletics next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Coughs up season-high seven runs
Rotowire
Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Cardinals after giving up seven runs on seven hits and one walk in 2.2 innings. He struck out two.
After getting knocked around for six runs on a career-worst 11 hits his last time out, Lorenzen coughed up a season-worst seven runs in his shortest outing of the year Tuesday. Four of his seven hits allowed went for extra bases, and the veteran right-hander matched his season low in punchouts. Despite having four quality starts to his name among 12 appearances in 2025, Lorenzen owns a poor 5.12 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 65 innings. His next start is set to come against the lowly White Sox, which at least offers him a prime opportunity to rebound.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Season-worst outing in sixth loss
Rotowire
Lorenzen (3-6) took the loss Monday against the Reds after allowing six runs on 11 hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out two.
Lorenzen established season worsts in runs, hits allowed and punchouts, with the 11 knocks even representing a career-worst mark. The veteran right-hander has struggled on the mound a bit this month, as he's logged a 5.34 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over his last five starts, but he does hold a more encouraging 24:6 K:BB across his last 28.2 innings. Lorenzen will be trying to find a groove in his next scheduled outing, but he'll have his work cut out at home versus the first-place Tigers this weekend.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Takes no-decision Friday
Rotowire
Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Red Sox after pitching seven shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out seven batters. He did not issue a walk.
Getting through seven scoreless frames on just 90 pitches feels like too good of a performance not to be rewarded with a win, but that's what happens when your offense doesn't put any runs on the board until the 11th inning. The 33-year-old entered the game with a 4.23 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, but those numbers have dropped to 3.57 and 1.26, respectively, following his longest outing of the season. He'll look to keep his momentum going and collect his first win of May next week in Houston.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Hit hard in no-decision
Rotowire
Lorenzen did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 11-6 win over the Orioles, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Lorenzen was tagged for four of the 11 total home runs hit between the Royals and Orioles on Sunday. He generated an impressive 13 whiffs on 85 pitches but failed to complete five innings for just the second time in seven starts. The 33-year-old will carry a 4.23 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB across 38.1 innings into a home matchup with the Red Sox next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Sharp in second win
Rotowire
Lorenzen (2-3) earned the win over the Rockies in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, allowing one run on five hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out seven.
It was a solid performance from Lorenzen, who held Colorado off the board until Jordan Beck launched a solo home run with two outs in the sixth inning despite issuing three-plus walks for the third time this year. The 33-year-old Lorenzen lowered his ERA to 3.90 with a 1.45 WHIP and 24:11 K:BB through his first five starts (27.2 innings) of 2025. Lorenzen is currently in line to face the Rays on the road in his next outing.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Rockies-Royals postponed
Rotowire
Lorenzen and the Royals won't face the Rockies on Wednesday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
Wednesday's contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday, and Lorenzen will take the mound for the nightcap, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The 33-year-old righty will be looking for a bounce-back performance after surrendering seven earned runs over 10.1 frames in his last two starts.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Mixed bag in season debut
Rotowire
Lorenzen (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in 5.1 innings Tuesday against the Brewers. He struck out seven.
It was a mixed bag for Lorenzen, who did fan seven but also served up a solo homer to Eric Haase in the third inning. The right-hander worked into the sixth frame but watched Rhys Hoskins drive in a run on a single before he was lifted for Sam Long, who allowed one of Lorenzen's inherited runners to score. The veteran righty is next slated to take the mound early next week at home against Minnesota.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Back with KC on one-year deal
Rotowire
The Royals re-signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The deal also includes a $12 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026. Lorenzen, 33, collected a 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:60 K:BB over 130.1 innings between the Rangers and Royals in 2024. He'll presumably begin the 2025 season in Kansas City's rotation, which would leave Alec Marsh and Kris Bubic competing for one spot. Lorenzen had been hoping to be used at designated hitter early in the season with the goal of earning a two-way roster designation, but that appears to be out the window now.
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Michael Lorenzen: Aiming for two-way designation
Rotowire
Lorenzen's agent, Ryan Hamill, is marketing his client as a two-way player this offseason, with the goal of gaining a two-way roster designation, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The only major league player to qualify for two-way status since it was introduced in 2020 is Shohei Ohtani. A player with the designation does not count against a team's 13-pitcher limit on their 26-man roster, effectively allowing them to serve as a 14th pitcher. Lorenzen's plan is to sign with a club -- likely a non-contender -- and then accrue 20-plus innings as a pitcher and play 20-plus games as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each game), which would meet the necessary criteria for two-way status. Gaining the two-way designation would, in theory, make Lorenzen an attractive trade target for a contending club keen on taking advantage of having an extra pitcher on their roster. Lorenzen has not hit in a major-league game since 2021 and hasn't had more than one plate appearance since 2019, but he boasts a career .710 OPS with seven home runs over 321 plate appearances. He was an effective rotation piece for the Rangers and Royals last year with a 3.31 ERA across 130.1 innings during the regular season.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Removal deemed precautionary
Rotowire
Lorenzen left his start against Washington on Wednesday as a precaution due to lower-body fatigue.
Lorenzen was activated off the injured list earlier Wednesday after missing the past month with a hamstring strain, so the Royals likely didn't want to push it once he reported discomfort on the mound in the third inning. The 32-year-old's abbreviated outing will presumably mark the end of his regular season, leaving him with a 3.37 ERA and 1.25 WHIP alongside a 94:60 K:BB across 25 appearances (24 starts), and he'll now look to prepare for the Royals' postseason run.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Making return Wednesday
Rotowire
Lorenzen (hamstring) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Nationals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has been out since late August due to a hamstring strain but will rejoin Kansas City's rotation after a pair of rehab outings. Lorenzen had a limit workload in both rehab appearances and will likely have some limitations Wednesday, which will be his final start of the regular season.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Continuing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lorenzen (hamstring) will continue his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Omaha.
The right-hander gave up three runs over 1.2 innings during his first rehab outing Tuesday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and he'll follow that abbreviated appearance with another start Friday. Lorenzen is working his way back from a Grade 2 hamstring strain he sustained in late August, and it's unclear if he'll require another rehab outing before being activated from the injured list.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Manager Matt Quatraro said Sunday that Lorenzen (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals haven't specified which minor-league affiliate Lorenzen will report to for the rehab assignment. He's recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained in late August, so Lorenzen may need just one rehab outing to get back up to speed, though a clearer timeline for his return from the 15-day injured list will likely emerge once he's completed the start.
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Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Joining rotation Saturday
Rotowire
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lorenzen will start Saturday's game in Detroit, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After acquiring Lorenzen from the Rangers on Monday, the Royals didn't immediately decide whether the right-hander would slot into the rotation or fill a versatile multi-inning role out of the bullpen. Two days later, the team has made its intentions known with Lorenzen, who will step in as the Royals' new No. 5 starter in place of Alec Marsh, who was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. Lorenzen had started in all but one of his 19 appearances with the Rangers prior to the trade, logging a 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 75:48 K:BB in 101.2 innings.
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Rangers' Michael Lorenzen: Wins despite command issues
Rotowire
Lorenzen (5-4) allowed a hit and five walks over five shutout innings Friday, striking out four and earning a win over the Rays.
Lorenzen's control was shaky and nearly cost him a scoreless outing when he walked the bases loaded in the fifth inning, but he managed to escape the jam. He's thrown exactly five innings in three straight starts and has walked nine batters over his last two outings. Lorenzen dropped his season ERA to 3.21 with a lackluster 62:40 K:BB through 87 innings. His next start is lined up to be on the road against the Angels.
