Royals Veteran Set to Be Key X-Factor in Playoff Push After Injury Return
What can Kansas City expect from this right-handed pitcher? 
Over the weekend, the Kansas City Royals quietly welcomed back a crucial arm to their rotation. While ace Cole Ragans remains on the injured list with an uncertain timeline for a return, Michael Lorenzen made his first appearance in six weeks following a recovery from a left oblique strain.
On Saturday, Lorenzen faced the struggling Chicago White Sox and threw four shutout innings in an impressive comeback. His performance helped lower his season ERA to 4.43—still not where he wants it, but certainly a step in the right direction.
The Role of Michael Lorenzen for the Royals
Although Lorenzen was on a pitch count, his outing wasn’t particularly efficient—82 pitches for just four innings. Despite the Royals securing a win and completing a three-game sweep of the White Sox, Lorenzen expressed some frustration about his limited innings.
“Happy with the win and happy to be back,” Lorenzen told Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star. “Not too stoked about just going four innings… You want to give the bullpen some rest, so not happy about that side of things. But the win is really what matters.”
Moving forward, Lorenzen will need to provide more length to support the Royals’ playoff aspirations. But what if he can offer even more than that?
A Potential Breakthrough for Lorenzen
Following his start, Lorenzen hinted that his rehab appearances helped him fine-tune some mechanical issues, which could lead to more effective outings as the season progresses.
“Mechanically, I figured out some stuff and cleaned out some bad habits from those rehab outings, which was perfect,” Lorenzen shared. “I tried to fight to come back without any rehab outings, but I think they made the right move by having me make those outings. I got those all ironed out, and I feel pretty confident about it.”
Lorenzen was solid for the Royals last season after returning from injury in the final weeks. Could he replicate that success? If so, this injury-riddled rotation may have just gained a valuable secret weapon for their playoff push.
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