Blue Jays sign veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to aid overworked bullpen

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays signed veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to a one-year contract on Thursday to help shore up a bullpen that has been used heavily in recent weeks.

Lorenzen was released by the Colorado Rockies earlier this month. His arrival in Toronto came a day after the Blue Jays used seven relievers in a 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“Availability for length and availability to do a lot of different things,” Toronto manager John Schneider said before the Blue Jays faced the Kansas City Royals.

Lorenzen, who started 25 of his 26 appearances with the Rockies this year, was available out of the bullpen for Thursday night's game against the Royals.

Lorenzen, a 12-year MLB veteran, was 3-11 with a 7.08 earned-run average this season with Colorado.

The 34-year-old Lorenzen spent his first seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and was an All-Star with the Detroit Tigers in 2023. He has also played for the Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers.

“You pick up a guy that’s done it before and that can basically throw every day,” Schneider said.

Bullpen games have become a frequent occurrence for the Blue Jays this season due to injuries. Shane Bieber would have started on Wednesday, but he was placed on the 15-day injured list due to muscle inflammation in his right shoulder.

Other Toronto starters on the IL include Trey Yesavage (knee), Jose Berrios (elbow), Patrick Corbin (shoulder), Bowden Francis (elbow), Cody Ponce (knee) and Jameson Taillon (forearm).

Several Blue Jays relievers are in the top 15 on the major-league list for appearances this season.

Entering play Thursday, Mason Fluharty led all players with 71 appearances. Braydon Fisher (64) was fifth, Tyler Rogers (63) was tied for sixth and closer Louis Varland (61) was tied for 12th.

Schneider said Lorenzen could also be used as a starter over the final month of the season, if needed.

“He’s done it obviously this year and in the past,” he said. “So he can do that or can do multiple things out of the ‘pen. He could do one inning out of the ’pen.”

Lorenzen has a 57-66 record and 4.40 ERA over 421 career appearances, including 144 starts.

“It’s tough to pitch (at altitude) in Colorado, we know that,” Schneider said. “He’s excited to be here. He loves the place.”

Also Thursday, the Blue Jays optioned right-hander Chad Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo and transferred outfielder Jonatan Clase to the 60-day injured list.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

ATLANTA (AP) — Tarik Skubal knows he will feel emotions when he makes his return to Detroit on Friday night to pitch against the Tigers only four weeks after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal says he hopes to focus on representing the Dodgers instead of dwelling on his memories with the Tigers at Comerica Park. He acknowledged it may not be easy to keep his emotions in check.

“We'll see, right?” Skubal told SI.com on Wednesday. “The whole process was emotional. I have a lot of respect for those guys over there. I'm just going to go play baseball.”

Overall this season, Skubal is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA. In four starts for the Dodgers since the Aug. 1 trade, Skubal is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He is coming off his first win for the Dodgers. The left-hander had 11 strikeouts in seven innings in a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Skubal, 29, made his major league debut with Detroit in 2020 and had played for no other team before the trade. The deal sent the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner to the two-time defending World Series champions.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believes Skubal has the right temperament to handle the emotions which will come with his Detroit homecoming.

“I think, you know, that whole ‘be where your feet are’ adage, I think that’s just who he is,” Roberts said Wednesday. “Some people have a hard time letting go, but I think that Tarik is a guy that, wherever he’s at, he’s all in.”

Roberts said he expects Skubal “is going to try to engage guys and immerse himself with coaches, with his teammates, the best he can. That’s a good trait. Like I said, I’ve only known him a short time, but I’m really, really fortunate we got him on our club. Not even just for the pitching, just beyond.”

Skubal said he is “sure it will be emotional there just because of the history.” The emotions will be fresh because he has had less than one month to adjust to his new Los Angeles home before making his return to Detroit.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve got to go play baseball," Skubal said. “I’ve got to compete and do what I do well, what makes me a good pitcher. I’ll probably handle the emotions after.”

The Tigers are expected to have right-hander Drew Anderson (4-5, 4.09 ERA) face Skubal in the opener of the three-game series.

AP Sports Writer Maura Carey contributed to this report.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on as players warm up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)