Lorenzen struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save against the Mets on Sunday.
Lorenzen was blasted for four runs while recording just one out in his first appearance out of the bullpen Sept. 19 but rebounded with his first save since 2021 on Sunday. He posted an ugly 7.96 ERA over his last five starts before being shifted to the bullpen. It's unclear exactly what role the Phillies intend to use Lorenzen in moving forward and in the postseason. He owns a 4.26 ERA through 150 innings and a 5.89 ERA in 44.1 frames with Philadelphia.
Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Filling piggyback role
Rotowire
Lorenzen and Cristopher Sanchez will be used in a piggyback role Tuesday against Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The Phillies may or may not have acquired Lorenzen at the deadline with the intention of using him in relief during the postseason, but his 7.96 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over his last five starts has certainly pushed him in that direction. Tuesday's outing could be a test for an arrangement the team hopes to use in the playoffs, with the left-handed Sanchez likely to throw a handful of innings before turning it over to the right-handed Lorenzen for a few more. Whether the setup is used more than once or if Lorenzen will move to a standard bullpen role following Tuesday's appearance is not yet clear.
Lorenzen (4-2) earned the win Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-5 victory over Atlanta. He struck out three.
Lorenzen's final line could've looked much better if it wasn't for Matt Olson -- the first baseman drove in all four Atlanta runs with a pair of home runs. Still, Lorenzen pitched well enough to earn the win behind the Phillies' seven-run outburst. Since he no-hit the Nationals on Aug. 9, the 31-year-old Lorenzen has struggled to a 7.96 ERA in his subsequent five starts (26 innings). Overall, he sports a 4.06 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 107:43 K:BB across 25 starts (148.2 innings) between the Phillies and Tigers this season. Lorenzen's currently lined up for a rematch with Atlanta on the road in his next outing.
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Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Could be moved to bullpen
Rotowire
Lorenzen could be moved to the bullpen with the Phillies expected to shift back to a five-man rotation, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The plan has been for Philadelphia to pare down to five starters after Monday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, and that remains likely to happen even if it hasn't officially been decided yet. "Umm, I would think so," manager Rob Thomson said when asked about moving back to a five-man rotation. "But that's not 100 percent either. But I would think so. It all depends on how guys feel and how they come out of this. How Sanchy comes out of his start (Wednesday)." Lorenzen has plenty of past bullpen experience, of course, and part of the appeal in acquiring him at the deadline was knowing he could easily shift to relief, if needed. With Seranthony Dominguez struggling, the Phillies could use another right-handed setup man, a role Lorenzen could potentially fill. If Lorenzen does indeed move to the bullpen, it would be Cristopher Sanchez filling the fifth starter role.
Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Struggles in San Diego
Rotowire
Lorenzen (8-9) allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out one over six innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Padres.
Lorenzen and Pedro Avila traded zeroes for the first three frames, but the Padres' offense came to life after that. Lorenzen was very good in his first two starts for the Phillies, but he's allowed 22 runs (19 earned) over his last four outings, spanning 21 innings. The right-hander is at a 3.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 104:41 K:BB through 143.2 innings across 24 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home in a difficult matchup versus Atlanta.
Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Notches quality start, win
Rotowire
Lorenzen (3-1) earned the win Tuesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks over six innings against the Angels. He struck out five.
The 31-year-old right-hander allowed individual runs to score in four consecutive innings, with Luis Rengifo launching solo home runs in the second and fourth innings, and Shohei Ohtani hitting run-scoring singles in the third and fifth. Fortunately for fantasy managers in leagues that reward quality starts, one of Lorenzen's runs was unearned due to his own throwing error. In three starts since throwing 124 pitches in his no-hitter Aug. 9, he has unsurprisingly struggled, posting a 7.80 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB while yielding five home runs across 15 innings. Lorenzen's next start is tentatively scheduled to take place in San Diego early next week.
Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Allows four runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Lorenzen did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against San Francisco. He struck out four.
Lorenzen has struggled since throwing 124 pitches in his no-hitter against the Nationals, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits in his subsequent two starts (nine innings). Overall, he's 7-8 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB across 22 starts (131.2 innings) this season. Lorenzen will look to get back in the win column in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week against the Angels.
