Fantasy News

• Tigers' Alex Lange: Control issues persist in loss

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Lange (0-1) allowed five unearned runs to take the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. He walked two and retired two batters via strikeout. Lange didn't allow any hits or earned runs, but it still wasn't a great performance. Coming on in the top of the 12th inning with a runner on second, the righty walked the first hitter he faced. Later in the frame, Lange walked in a run with the bases loaded. The big blow came a few batters later, when a Zach McKinstry fielding error with the bases loaded led to three more runs. While Lange sits with a solid 2.08 ERA, free passes continue to be a big problem, as he now has seven of them this year in just 4.1 innings. Lange will need to cut down on the walks if he wants to earn trust in high-leverage spots. He also tossed a whopping 36 pitches in the uneven appearance, so he surely won't be available for the nightcap.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Picks up first save

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Lange earned the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the A's, striking out the lone batter he faced in a third of an inning. Andrew Chafin was brought on to start the ninth, but he allowed a pair of walks before Lange was brought in to face the right-handed Zack Gelof, who he struck out on four pitches. It's the first save of the season for Lange, who was initially expected to serve as Detroit's primary ninth-inning option. However, it appears that the Tigers will opt for a modified closing committee, with Jason Foley (who pitched the eighth Friday) getting the highest-leverage usage. Lange converted 26 of 32 save chances last season, pitching to a 3.68 ERA with a 79:45 K:BB across 66 innings.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Looks better Thursday

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2024

  Lange tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in a Thursday Grapefruit League contest against the Blue Jays, lowering his spring ERA to 12.00. Lange has pitched in three Grapefruit League games and this was his first time not allowing a run. It's not a great start to spring training for the righty, though he figures to have a fairly firm hold on Detroit's closer role heading into the regular season. Lange recorded 26 saves last year and had 79 strikeouts across 66 innings, though he struggled with command at times, walking a whopping 45 batters.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Secures save in season finale

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Lange allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to secure the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Guardians. He struck out two. Lange finished his 2023 campaign on a high note, recording his 26th save in 32 chances to go with a 3.68 ERA. The righty endured some rough patches in his first season as Detroit's closer, particularly when his command eluded him, though he exhibited dominant stuff with 79 strikeouts across 66 innings. Lange also looked sharper down the stretch, posting a 2.70 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 13.1 innings in September and October. For the moment, he looks like the favorite to close out games for the Tigers again in 2024.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Earns four-out save

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Lange allowed a hit in 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday. He struck out two and picked up a save over the Athletics. Lange allowed a leadoff double to Shea Langeliers in the ninth inning but needed just 16 pitches to record four outs and close out the 2-0 win. Lange blew two of his previous three save chances entering Sunday's game. He now has 25 in 31 opportunities alongside a 3.84 ERA and a 76:44 K:BB this season.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Falters again Tuesday

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Lange (7-5) took the loss and a blown save in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman over one inning. Lange entered in the eighth inning and allowed a runner inherited from Jason Foley to score the tying run. In the ninth, Lange gave up a walk-off single to Max Muncy to complete the collapse. Lange has blown saves in two of his last three appearances. He's now at a 3.92 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 74:44 K:BB through 62 innings this season while going 24-for-30 in save chances.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Records another save Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Lange pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the White Sox. For the second day in a row, Lange shut down Chicago in short order to record a save. The righty now has 23 saves this season, with four of them coming this month. Lange hit a rough patch when he struggled with control earlier this year, but he has seemingly righted the ship, and he could be poised for a strong finish to the season given his recent form.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Secures 22nd save Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Lange tossed 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the White Sox. He struck out two. Lange has had a few hiccups here and there this season, though he now has 22 saves in 26 chances to go along with a decent 3.63 ERA. The righty has been scored upon only once in his last 12 appearances, and he has a 2.25 ERA during the stretch. Lange should remain locked in as Detroit's closer during the final weeks of the year.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Notches 20th save

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Lange allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save against the White Sox on Friday. He struck out one. Lange worked around a leadoff single and needed just nine pitches to close out the 4-2 victory. It was a strong rebound after he coughed up three runs and blew a save against the Yankees on Thursday, which ended a stretch of seven straight scoreless outings. He's now 20 for 24 in save chances while registering a 3.86 ERA across 53.2 frames.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Earns win Friday

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2023

  Lange (6-3) worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the win Friday against the Astros. Lange worked the ninth in a 1-1 tie and managed to not let a walk hurt him. The righty then earned the win when Parker Meadows smashed a walk-off home run in the bottom half of the frame. After some control issues led to a rough patch earlier in the month, Lange has been better lately, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings over his last six appearances with only three walks. He also appears to have regained the ninth-inning role in Detroit, with two saves and a win in his last three outings.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Secures another save Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 22, 2023

  Lange worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and record the save in Monday's 8-6 win over the Cubs. He struck out one. After command issues seemingly bumped him from the closer role recently, it appears that Lange may be back in the saddle, as he's now recorded the team's last two saves. That gives the righty 19 saves for the season in 22 chances. Jason Foley worked the eighth inning Monday, but he could still some opportunities. However, Lange has the more overpowering stuff, and it seems like the Tigers want to see him stick in the role as long as he's throwing strikes.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Earns 18th Save

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Lange pitched a clean ninth to pick up the save in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Guardians. Entering with a three-run cushion, Lange needed just 12 pitches to finish off the Guardians for his 18th save. This was the sixth consecutive appearance for Lange in which he didn't allow a hit, but more notable is that he also didn't allow a free pass after having walked 11 batters in his previous five innings. He now holds a 3.70 ERA to go along with a 1.36 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Skipped again for save chance

  Rotowire Aug 19, 2023

  Lange was not used in a save opportunity Friday against the Guardians and seems to have ceded the job to Jason Foley. Foley allowed a run but still managed to convert the save in a 4-2 win over Cleveland in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. He's recorded Detroit's last two saves, and it seems like that's pushed Lange out of the closer role for now. The latter's demotion is warranted, as Lange has struggled with control this month, walking 10 batters in just 4.1 innings. If Lange can limit the free passes moving forward, it's possible he re-emerges as the team's closer.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Secures another save

  Rotowire Jul 17, 2023

  Lange pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts to record the save in Monday's 3-2 win over the Royals. Lange needed just 10 pitches to retire Kansas City in order, giving him his 15th save of the season in 18 chances and second in the last three days. The righty has had some hiccups lately after starting the season very strongly, though he doesn't seem to be in danger of losing his grip on the closer job. Lange now has 50 strikeouts in 38.2 innings this year, pointing to his ability to dominate hitters, even if he hasn't been able to do so consistently.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Blows save Sunday

  Rotowire Jul 9, 2023

  Lange allowed two runs on a hit and a walk over an inning of work to blow the save in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out two. Lange's up-and-down season continued, as he blew his third save opportunity in 16 chances. The righty was lights-out through the end of May with a 1.16 ERA, but he has a 9.45 ERA since then, pushing his season mark to 4.17. Lange figures to stick as Detroit's closer due to the team's lack of other options, but he's been a shaky fantasy contributor recently.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Ices combined no-hitter with save

  Rotowire Jul 9, 2023

  Lange picked up the save Saturday against the Blue Jays, striking out one over one scoreless inning. Lange entered the game in the ninth inning with a no-hit bid still intact for Detroit and went 1-2-3 through the top of Toronto's lineup. He whiffed the current hits leader in the American League, Bo Bichette, on three straight curveballs before forcing a flyout and a groundout in the next two at-bats and securing perhaps the biggest save of his career. Lange has now converted his last three save attempts, and he didn't issue a walk Saturday for the first time in his last five appearances.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Shuts door for 11th save

  Rotowire Jun 19, 2023

  Lange pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the save in Monday's 6-4 win over the Royals. He did not allow any hits or walks. Despite having 38 strikeouts this year in just 29.1 innings, Lange did not record any Monday, though he still managed to retire the side in order on 12 pitches. The righty is now 11-for-13 in save opportunities this season with a 3.99 ERA overall. He's struggled some lately, though, allowing two or more runs three times in just eight appearances this month. However, Lange should stick in the closer role for a Detroit team that doesn't have many other established end-game options.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Picks up fourth win

  Rotowire Jun 12, 2023

  Lange (4-2) tossed a scoreless 10th inning and earned a win over Atlanta on Monday. Lange needed just four pitches to work a clean inning and earned the win after Detroit walked off in the 10th. He was crushed with seven runs over his previous three outings but clearly the Tigers still trust him in a late-inning role. He's sporting a 3.29 ERA and 37:14 K:BB through 28 appearances.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Notches eighth save

  Rotowire May 20, 2023

  Lange struck out two in 1.1 perfect innings to record his eighth save of the season in Friday's 8-6 win over the Nationals. The right-hander needed only 13 pitches (nine strikes) to shut down the bottom of Washington's order. It's been over a month since Lange allowed a run, as he's reeled off 15 straight scoreless appearances, and the 27-year-old sports a 0.98 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 34.7 percent strikeout rate through 18.1 innings on the season. While little has gone right for the Tigers this season, they do seem to have found an elite high-leverage arm in Lange.

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• Tigers' Alex Lange: Nails down seventh save

  Rotowire May 14, 2023

  Lange worked around two walks to pitch a scoreless inning and earn the save in Sunday's win over the Mariners. He struck out two. Lange is now 7-for-8 in save opportunities this season and has his ERA down to a sparkling 1.06. The righty has done it by missing plenty of bats, as he now has 23 strikeouts across 17 innings. Lange had 82 strikeouts in 63.1 innings last year, so it doesn't look like a fluke. With Gregory Soto now in Philadelphia, Lange is locked in as the team's most trusted end-game option, and he has the stuff to put up good numbers the rest of the way.

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