Alex Lange, the Tigers’ former closer, is experiencing a disappointing season in Triple-A.
In the first month of the season, Alex Lange appeared to have everything under control. He concluded the year with a 3.68 ERA despite battling for the bulk of the season as the Detroit Tigers’ de facto closer. Detroit’s bullpen was desperate for arms entering spring training, so there was no doubt Lange would make the Opening Day roster, despite his recent problems.
He also got off to a tremendous start. By the end of April, he had a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings worked, working as a closer and middle relief depending on the scenario. His ERA plummeted to 0.64 by May 8, after four appearances (all as a closer) and 14 innings pitched.
The second time he came out of the bullpen, however, things were nasty. Lange came in during the seventh inning after Joey Wentz surrendered two runs to the Astros and got the Tigers out with a flyout from Jeremy Peña. In the eighth, he wasn’t as fortunate. Yordan Alvarez led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lange then walked Jon Singleton, resulting in a series of events in which Houston scored four runs.
His final stint in the majors before being sent to Triple-A went similarly poorly, with his ERA rising to 4.34.
He appeared to be improving in the minors after 8 2/3 innings (3.12 ERA), but he may have suffered a severe setback. Lange was pulled early from a June 14 appearance due to an undetected upper-body issue.
Tigers’ Alex Lange suffers injury after his May demotion to Triple-A
After Lange was removed, the Mud Hens stated that he would need to undergo tests to thoroughly diagnose the issue, but we have yet to hear formal word on what the problem is. However, it has been described as “severe,” which may indicate something potentially season-ending. He was also observed grabbing his latissimus dorsi muscle (or, to put it simply, his back).
Lange’s downturn in the majors corresponded with the decline of the entire bullpen. Their combined ERA in the first month of the season was one of the best in the majors; it is now 18th, with a 4.10 ERA. Over the previous 30 days, the Tigers’ relievers have a 5.65 ERA and are ranked in the bottom third of MLB in terms of fWAR.
Lange has never suffered a serious injury in his career, but this is a huge setback because he was attempting to earn his way back into the majors.