Michael Lorenzen was chosen for the All-Star team as a member of the Detroit Tigers last season. He will make his season debut against them on Monday night when the Texas Rangers open a four-game series in Detroit.
The veteran right-hander will be activated from the 15-day injured list and make his Rangers debut. Lorenzen had a rehab start at Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, going 4 2/3 innings and throwing 89 pitches.
Lorenzen, who was dealing with a neck injury during spring training, made three rehab starts at Round Rock. Lorenzen was a late signee, inking a one-year deal as a free agent on March 22.
"He's going to help give the guys a break," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have some versatility with a couple of guys in the rotation."
Lorenzen's presence in the rotation is needed, as Cody Bradford went on the injured list on Sunday due to a lower back strain.
The 26-year-old left-hander gave up just three earned runs and 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings this season while winning all three of his starts.
Lorenzen went 5-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts with the Tigers last season. He was then dealt to Philadelphia, where he made 11 more regular-season appearances, including throwing a no-hitter.
He's made six appearances (one start) against Detroit in his career, going 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA.
Reese Olson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will get the start for the Tigers. In his season debut, Olson held the New York Mets scoreless in 5 2/3 innings.
His last outing didn't go as smoothly, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Monday.
"Obviously, I didn't do a good job getting ahead in counts," Olson said. "Can't be successful when you are doing that. ... The main thing was falling behind in counts. I become a little more predictable and they took advantage of that."
Olson gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings in his only career outing against the Rangers.
The Tigers salvaged a split in their four-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins thanks to a late rally. Spencer Torkelson's go-ahead single capped a four-run eighth as they collected a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.
"It was tough to do anything against (Twins starter Bailey Ober)," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "We needed any spark. A base hit would have been a spark at that point."
They got the best base hit possible to start a rally as Javier Baez hit his first homer of the season. Mark Canha supplied a two-run double during the comeback.
It was not only Baez's first long ball but his first extra-base hit of the season.
"I finally got one," Baez said. "I'm still working. Today, I feel good. Yesterday, I felt good, too. Just need to be consistent every day and take it out there. I've been thinking too much. Once I slow everything down, I should be good."
The Rangers lost the last two games of a three-game series against Houston. They trailed 8-2 entering the ninth on Sunday before falling 8-5.
"Our bats were a little quiet. It was good to see them wake up there in the ninth and make them bring the closer into the game but the damage was done," Bochy said.
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