3:46 AM UTC
Kennedi Landry
@kennlandryARLINGTON -- Michael Lorenzen signed with the Rangers on the very last day of Spring Training.
He was one of many unsigned starting pitchers across the league throughout camp. The Rangers, with a trio of veterans -- Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle -- opening the season on the injured list, were among many teams who could use some depth.
At the time of his signing, Lorenzen said he had a chip on his shoulder “the size of Texas.” Considering the long, frustrating spring he spent searching for a team, it was understandable.
Just past the halfway point of the 2024 season, it’s hard to imagine the Rangers rotation without Lorenzen. He tossed five shutout innings in Texas’ 3-0 win over the Rays on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
“He was good, he was real good,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “I was just a little concerned after the fifth. He threw 20-something pitches somewhere in there. So that's a lot of work and approaching 90 and the bullpen was fresh, so, you know, I just wanted to take care of him -- and the bullpen, they got it done. It wasn't easy, but they did all get it done.”
This is only the ninth shutout the Rangers pitching staff has thrown this season. Three of those nine have come on Lorenzen start days. Even so, it was Lorenzen’s first scoreless outing since June 1 at Miami.
Lorenzen’s season-high five walks didn’t stop him from shutting down the Rays every time it mattered, including when he issued three free passes in the fifth inning and ultimately struck out Brandon Lowe to get out of the jam.
“I thought I made some good pitches. They just weren't swinging,” Lorenzen said. “That was getting me behind in counts and I was kind of stubborn about making those pitches, and they just weren't swinging. I'm glad we came out with a win. It wasn't pretty on my end, but wins make everything better.”
It’s the second time this season in which he logged five or more shutout innings despite also issuing five or more walks (April 15 at Detroit). He’s also the first Rangers pitcher since Rich Harden in 2010 to toss five or more shutout innings while issuing five or more walks while allowing one or zero hits.
According to Stathead, Lorenzen is just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to author multiple scoreless starts of at least five innings with five-plus walks in a single season, joining Bobby Witt in 1987, Ed Correa in 1986 and Jim Bibby in 1973, who all also did it twice.
“Yeah, not ideal with the walks but like I said, I was kind of being stubborn with the pitches I was making,” Lorenzen said. “When they're not swinging, they're just not swinging. If they are swinging, then I'm probably going a lot deeper and with weak contact and stuff. Hats off to them for not swinging the bat as much as I'd like them to.”
The Rangers’ 40-48 record doesn’t reflect where they want to be at this point in the season, but the starting pitching -- especially Lorenzen’s contribution -- is not the reason. Texas has been decimated by injuries and offensive underperformance this season. Eight Rangers starting pitchers -- including Lorenzen -- have spent time on the injured list at some point this season. If he never signed, it’s hard to imagine how much worse that record could be.
Lorenzen has been one of the few silver linings as the club tries to get back into the mix for the postseason. Over his last 10 starts, Lorenzen has posted a 2.48 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 26 walks, cutting his season ERA from 4.66 to 3.21.
“I feel good about [my season so far] because I feel like I know where I can improve,” he said. “And it's attainable for me each and every start to improve with making better pitches, making the shapes of my pitches a little better, getting more comfortable with throwing certain pitches in certain counts.
"I feel like I'm improving, so when you have stuff to get better at and you know how to get better at those things, it makes it motivating to show up to the field each and every day to try and get better at those things.”
