Lopez gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning Monday to record his first save of the season in an 8-7 victory over Atlanta.
Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had indicated Edwin Diaz, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley were all getting the night off due to their heavy workload early in the season, which pushed the team's other bullpen arms into high-leverage spots. Lopez got the call in the ninth to protect a two-run lead, and while his ability to close things out looked dicey when Matt Olson led off the frame with a double, the right-hander was able to escape the jam. Lopez did record 23 saves with a 2.54 ERA in a breakout 2022 before crashing back to earth last season, but he's had a solid start to the current campaign, picking up a hold as well as Monday's save over six appearances with a 3.18 ERA and 4:3 K:BB in 5.2 innings. He's unlikely to see many more save chances, but as a bridge to the Mets' usual late-inning crew, the 31-year-old could rack up double-digit holds for the second straight season.
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Mets' Jorge Lopez: Looking good this spring
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Lopez has posted a 2.57 ERA and 5:1 K:BB through seven Grapefruit League innings this spring.
The 31-year-old right-hander is trying to get his career back on track after a rough 2023 that saw him stumble to a 5.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 18.4 percent strikeout rate over 59 innings split between the Twins, Orioles and Marlins. Lopez was an effective closer for Baltimore as recently as 2022 however, and after signing a one-year, $2 million contract with the Mets in December, he should fill a middle-relief role in a bullpen that doesn't have a lot of established high-leverage arms to get the ball to closer Edwin Diaz. If Lopez can regain his prior form, he could emerge as one of the team's primary setup options.
Lopez and the Mets are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Lopez was let go by the Orioles in October after he struggled to a 5.95 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 59 innings with Baltimore, Miami and Minnesota in 2023. Now in New York, he'll look to recapture his form from 2022, a campaign in which he was able to produce a 2.54 ERA with a 9.1 K/9 over 71 innings between the Twins and the Orioles.
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Jorge Lopez: Clears waivers, becomes free agent
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Lopez elected free agency Thursday after passing through waivers unclaimed, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Lopez was designated for assignment by the Orioles on the second-to-last day of the regular season. He was terrific in 2022, tallying 23 saves with a 2.54 ERA in 71 innings between Baltimore and Minnesota, but the 30-year-old right-hander struggled to a 5.95 ERA across 59 innings in 2023 while bouncing between three different teams.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Designated for assignment
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Lopez was designated for assignment Saturday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
The Orioles claimed Lopez off waivers from the Marlins on Sept. 2. During his month with Baltimore, he had a 5.25 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP in 12.0 innings. In a corresponding move, Bruce Zimmermann was recalled.
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Marlins' Jorge Lopez: Sent to Jacksonville
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The Marlins sent Lopez to Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
With Johnny Cueto (illness) returning from the injured list Saturday, Lopez will head back to the minors to free up a spot on the roster. The 30-year-old reliever is out of minor-league options and will have to pass through waivers before he can reach Jacksonville. He's allowed 12 runs in 11.2 innings since joining the Marlins in July.
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Orioles' Jorge Lopez: Claimed by O's
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The Orioles claimed Lopez off waivers from the Marlins on Saturday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Lopez was pushed off the Marlins' roster Saturday to clear space for Johnny Cueto, and he'll now head back to Baltimore. Lopez holds a 6.13 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 47 innings on the season, and while he was closing for the O's as recently as last July, he'll likely be limited to low-leverage outings down the stretch even with Felix Bautista (elbow) out of commission.
The Marlins acquired Lopez from the Twins on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Dylan Floro, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
The two teams will swap relief pitchers both in the midst of disappointing seasons. Lopez has been the less effective of the two, posting a 5.09 ERA and 27:11 K:BB over 35.1 innings. Unlike Floro, Lopez has an extra year of team control, although he looks like a potential non-tender candidate this offseason.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Activated from injured list
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Minnesota activated Lopez (mental health) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Lopez will return to the Twins' bullpen Tuesday against the Royals after taking a couple weeks off for mental health reasons. He had posted a disappointing 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 27 innings prior to the IL stint.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: No timetable for return
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Lopez, who is on the 15-day injured list for mental health reasons, has been throwing, but there is no timetable for his return, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Lopez is eligible to return from the injured list Friday, but it doesn't sound like he'll be activated this weekend. He'll likely need a minor-league rehab stint when he's ready to return.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Out for mental health reasons
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The Twins transferred Lopez from the restricted list to the 15-day injured list for mental health reasons Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Minnesota initially placed the right-hander on the restricted list earlier Sunday before moving him to the IL. Lopez has given up 12 earned runs, including five homers, in his past eight appearances, and he'll now step away from the team in order to address his mental health.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Lands on restricted list
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Lopez was placed on the restricted list Sunday for unspecified reasons.
The reason for the transaction is unclear, though Lopez has surrendered 12 earned runs, including five homers, in his past eight outings and has a 5.00 ERA this season. It remains to be seen when the right-hander will rejoin the Twins.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Recent struggles continue
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Lopez allowed two runs on two hits and one walk and didn't record an out Wednesday against the Astros.
Lopez's recent struggles continue as he had a 9.00 ERA (11 ER in 11 IP) with a 9:7 K:BB and three hit batters in May. The Twins used him in a low-leverage spot in a blowout to try and get him right and he still struggled. Lopez may be relegated to the bottom of the bullpen until he shows signs of progress.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: May struggles continue
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Lopez allowed three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, without retiring a batter in Saturday's 9-7 victory over the Blue Jays.
Lopez had a strong start to the season with 12 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk before May. Since May 2, Lopez has struggled with two losses, three blown saves and an 8.10 ERA in 10 innings. The Twins may need to move him to lower-leverage work until he gets back on track.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Converts third save
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Lopez earned a save against the Padres on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Jhoan Duran may have been unavailable for the Twins on Thursday after tossing two innings (but only 17 pitches) Wednesday, so the team turned to Lopez to protect a two-run, ninth-inning lead. The veteran right-hander didn't disappoint, fanning two of the three batters he faced in a perfect frame. Lopez has been excellent in his first full season with the Twins, allowing just three earned runs and posting a 13:4 K:BB over 17 innings. He has three saves on the season, but Duran has been outstanding as well and remains the team's primary closer.
Lopez allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn a save against Kansas City on Friday. He struck out one and hit one batter.
Lopez loaded the bases with two outs but worked through the danger to finish off the 8-6 win. He has yet to give up an earned run or a walk through 11.2 innings this season. Lopez has converted both of his save chances while going 1-0 with five holds. Jhoan Duran (personal) was not available Friday.
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Twins' Jorge Lopez: Continues scoreless streak
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Lopez threw a scoreless sixth inning with a strikeout Tuesday against the Red Sox. He's thrown 7.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks this season.
Lopez is having an outstanding start to the season, with the only negative being that Jhoan Duran looks like the primary closer. Lopez does have one save, but so far it looks like he'll be used to close games only when the latter is unavailable rather than more of a committee. Still, manager Rocco Baldelli has managed his bullpen without regard for the save statistic in the past.
