Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Alex Lange (lat) allowed a run and two hits while walking none and striking out one with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday as part of his minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. Lange threw a hitless inning with a walk and a strikeout for the Mud Hens on July 20, but he will need to throw on back-to-back days in the minors before the Tigers activate him from the 60-day injured list. The 29-year-old had surgery in June of last year to fix a right-lat avulsion, but he's nearing his return and could be ready to return to the majors in early August. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Cubs had a career-high 26 saves in 2023 with Detroit before getting injured in 2024. Lange has proven himself in high-leverage situations before, but expect the Tigers to ease him into their bullpen to close out the 2025 season.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange (lat) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. The right-hander continues to work his way back from a lat strain that has kept him sidelined since July 8. Lange only pitched in seven games before being pulled off his rehab assignment due to a lat issue. He hasn't made his 2025 season debut, but figures to be in the mix soon. The hope is that Lange can be a high-leverage option for the Tigers, but isn't someone worth stashing in fantasy formats.

Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Alex Lange (lat) has been returned from his rehab assignment after reporting mild lat tightness, the team announced. "We can't mess with this, because soreness can turn into injury quickly," said manager A.J. Hinch, who noted the Tigers are taking a "patient approach" with Lange. The 29-year-old underwent surgery on his right lat in August 2024 and still hasn't made it back to the majors over a year later. This latest setback will further delay his return to the bigs. In 2023, his most recent full season, Lange logged a 3.68 ERA with 10.77 K/9, 6.14 BB/9, and 26 saves over 66 innings. Will Vest has since taken over as Detroit's closer.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Lange (lat) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in Lakeland, Florida, on Wednesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Lange was cleared to face live hitters after a successful bullpen session on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been on the 60-day injured list all year while recovering from lat surgery. There's no timetable for his return, but barring a setback as he ramps his arm up, Lange is expected to return to the Tigers at some point this year. Expect Lange to have a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, meaning we probably won't see him until some point in the second half. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Cubs in 2017 out of LSU had a career-high 26 saves in 2023 in Motown but posted a career-worst 4.34 ERA with only two saves last year before going down with his lat injury.

Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Alex Lange (lat) is having his rehab work moved to Triple-A Toledo, but he is not on an official minor-league rehab assignment, according to the Detroit News' Chris McCosky. Lange was shut down from throwing after a setback in early April due to upper-arm inflammation, but he threw off a mound late last week and continues to build up his arm in hopes of eventually going on a rehab assignment and rejoining Detroit's big-league bullpen before the All-Star break. The 29-year-old had surgery on his lat in July of last year, which is why he has yet to pitch for the Tigers in 2025. The former first-rounder (30th overall) in 2017 out of LSU had a career-high 26 saves for Detroit in 2023 but finished with just two last year while sporting a career-high 4.34 ERA in 21 outings before his surgery. When healthy, he'll be a late-inning setup option for Detroit.

MLive's Evan Woodbery reports that Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Lange (lat) recently experienced increased upper-arm inflammation. He received multiple opinions, and it has been recommended that he completes a period of rest before resuming his throwing program. Lange underwent surgery on his right lat last June, which forced him to begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list. This setback will lengthen his recovery time, but hopefully he'll be ready to resume his throwing program after a period of rest. The 29-year-old reliever is currently on the 60-day injured, so the earliest he could return to Detroit's bullpen will be in late May. Lange had an ERA over 4.00 and only two saves in 21 relief appearances last year, but he had a 3.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a career-high 26 saves for the team in 2023, so he could be in line for a high-leverage role by the end of the season if he overcomes his injury.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange (lat) has begun playing catch three times a week from 120 feet, according to the team. Lange underwent lat surgery in June which caused him to miss the entire second half of the 2024 season. Before the injury, the 29-year-old posted a 3.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP across 18 2/3 innings. He tallied two saves and posted an underwhelming 17:21 BB:K ratio. However, he did generate whiffs at an elite 33.3% mark. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to Spring Training, as he may be able to participate, given his current pace. While Jason Foley will likely operate as the go-to ninth-inning option in Detroit this coming season, Lange could eventually mix in for opportunities as he tallied 26 saves during the 2023 season.

The Detroit Tigers optioned right-hander Alex Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday and recalled right-hander Mason Englert from Toledo in a corresponding move. The move to demote Lange to the minors comes a day after he gave up four earned runs in one inning of work in the team's loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The 28-year-old opened the year as Detroit's closer but will now try to figure some things out in the minors after going 0-3 so far in 2024 with a career-worst 4.34 ERA (3.94 FIP), a 1.77 WHIP, two saves, 17 walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Lange had a career-high 26 saves for the Tigers last year but has fallen on hard times so far this year, mainly for his inability to control the strike zone. He should be back in Detroit eventually, but he's not guaranteed to win the closer role back from Jason Foley.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange got destroyed on Sunday, allowing four runs in just IP in a 9-3 loss to the Houston Astros. Lange allowed five hits and two walks while failing to record a strikeout. The 28-year-old had been pitching well recently and seemed to be making a case to be re-inserted into the closer discussion, but a lot of that goodwill went away today with this disastrous performance. The Tigers will likely continue to use Jason Foley in the ninth inning, although they don't seem to fully trust him of late. Still, a lack of other options makes Foley the go-to guy for now.

Detroit Tigers relieverAlex Langewalked three batters and struck out one while recording just one out in the team's 7-6 extra-innings win against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Lange came into the game in the seventh inning and loaded the bases on walks, striking outYoan Moncadain the process. Lange avoided having any earned runs charged to him asWill VestgotEloy Jimenezto ground into an inning-ending double play. After throwing 23 pitches with control issues evident, it may be unlikely that Lange will pitch again on Sunday. The 28-year-old's next appearance will likely be in the Tigers' next series starting on Monday as they travel to Citi Field to face off against the New York Mets. Jason Foley notched the first save opportunity for the Tigers and appears to be the favorite over Lange to be Detoit's primary closer. Fantasy managers should add Foley in all league formats.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Lange has struggled through his first two appearances of the spring after an inconsistent 2023 season, much of which was spent as the Tigers' closer. The 28-year-old has yielded four earned runs on five hits, including two homers, across just two innings of work. He does have five strikeouts against just one walk allowed in that time but he has surrendered a .455 batting average to this point in Grapefruit League action. It's an ominous start to the spring considering Lange was all over the map a season ago, struggling with free passes by way of a 15.6% BB%. He finished the season with a solid 3.68 ERA with 26 saves and a healthy 27.4% K%, and his 50.6% ground-ball rate helped limit home runs. However, with the Tigers looking to compete in the 2024 season and the additions of Andrew Chafin and Shelby Miller to their bullpen, along with internal closing candidates, Lange will be on a short leash despite likely beginning the season as the club's closer.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange had struggled coming into this game as he blew each of his past two saves chances. However, he was able to get back on track versus the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The right-hander allowed a leadoff double to Shea Langeliers, but the A's didn't do anything with it. Lange threw 1.1 scoreless innings and notched his 25th save of the season. He now holds a 3.84 ERA with a 76/44 K/BB ratio this season. He has become a reliable ninth inning option out of the bullpen for Detroit.

Detroit Tigers closer Alex Lange returned Sunday to earn a save after blowing an opportunity on Saturday. In the ninth frame, Lange entered the contest against the Angels with a two-run lead. He started the inning by getting batter Eduardo Escobar to fly out to left field. The 27-year-old would then retire the next two Angels batters to close the contest. This season, the right-handed reliever has recorded 24 saves on 29 attempts.

Detroit Tigers closer Alex Lange earned his 22nd save of the season as his team defeated the White Sox 3-1 on Saturday. Lange retired four Chicago batters entering the contest in relief of Jason Foley in the eighth inning. The 27-year-old struck out Gavin Sheets and Lenyn Sosa to close the game. In September, Lange has converted on three of four save opportunities. The right-hander has an ERA of 3.63 in 57 innings pitched this season.

On Sunday, Detroit Tigers Alex Lange secured his 21st save in 2023. His team knocked off the White Sox 3-2. Despite a blown save just two days prior, the 27-year-old Lange has continued to be the closer for manager A.J. Hinch. The once-former starter has posted an ERA of 3.79 with 66 strikeouts in 54/2 innings. He's provided solid innings of work in eight of his last nine appearances and should be used as the closer for the remainder of the season.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange failed to convert on a save opportunity against the Yankees on Thursday. Lange was called upon to preserve a three-run lead in the ninth frame but got off to a rocky start as Oswaldo Cabrera bunted for a single. After he struck out Kyle Higashioka, Lange allowed a base hit to DJ LeMahieu. The 27-year-old soon forced right-handed batter Gleyber Torres to ground into a fielder's choice. With a chance to exit the inning without damage, he gave up a game-tying three-run dinger to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, sending the game to extra innings.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange picked up his 19th save of the season in Tuesday's 8-6 win over the Cubs. Lange entered the game to pitch the ninth inning up by two. He got the first out on a groundout, allowed a single, got the second out on a strikeout, and got the final out on another groundout. While Lange has served as the team's primary closer for most of the season, he has been splitting opportunities with Jason Foley lately. Lange has now converted all but three save opportunities with a 3.62 ERA, an 11.42 K/9 rate, and a 7.07 BB/9 rate. The overall lack of save opportunities and the high walk rate make Lange a viable option only in deeper roto leagues at this time.

Detroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange picked up his 18th save of the season Sunday, holding down a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. Lange pitched a scoreless inning where he didn't allow a baserunner and didn't strike out a batter. This makes four consecutive scoreless outings after a rough stretch that ended in him losing the closer role. This save doesn't necessarily mean he's back as the closer, as new frontrunner Jason Foley had pitched on consecutive days, but it does show that the Tigers trust Lange enough to be put into high-leverage situations. For now, Lange doesn't need to be rostered outside of deep category leagues, but keep an eye on the situation in Detroit as it could change quickly.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange finished off the San Diego Padres on Sunday to secure a 3-1 victory. Lange walked one and struck out one in his inning of work. After a rough patch in late June and early July, Lange has now strung together three consecutive scoreless outings and converted his last four save opportunities for the Tigers. He appears to be firmly in the closer role again and should be rostered in standard or deeper formats.

Detroit Tigers closer Alex Lange picked up his 15th save of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over the Royals. Lange came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by one and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. The 27-year-old has been inconsistent this season but has only blown three save opportunities to go with a 4.19 ERA, 11.64 K/9 rate, and 5.82 BB/9 rate. Lange's fantasy value is limited given his mediocre peripherals, but his role security makes him a worthwhile fantasy option in at least most roto leagues.