Rockies predicted to cut former Phillies, Reds All-Star amid 8.01 ERA problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Pitching at Coors Field, the home stadium of the Colorado Rockies, is never easy for starting pitchers.
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That’s often why free agents pitchers avoid signing long-term contracts with the Rockies.
It appears to have significantly hurt a 12-year veteran who has pitched for five different organizations since the start of 2023.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote Monday that the Rockies could consider designating right-hander Michael Lorenzen for assignment.
“Coors Field has not been kind to Lorenzen, saddled with a 9.67 ERA in six home starts with the Rockies,” Miller wrote. “But other fields haven’t been much kinder, sitting at a 6.68 ERA on the road this season.”
No matter where Lorenzen has pitched this season, the results haven’t been pretty. His 99 hits and 54 runs allowed lead the Majors.
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Lorenzen, an All-Star with the Detroit Tigers in 2023, is in danger of setting a record that hasn’t been accomplished in 26 years.
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“If they do decide to hang onto him, though, here’s your early heads up that the most recent pitcher to allow at least 135 earned runs in a single season was José Lima in 2000,” Miller added. “Lorenzen is on pace to change that.”
In all likelihood, the Rockies signed Lorenzen to a one-year deal in hopes of flipping him at the trade deadline and to fill a rotation spot.
Trading him doesn’t appear to be an option now, as his value has severely diminished.
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