The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-hander Justin Lawrence off waivers on Monday from the Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old reliever finds a new home in the National League after being waived by the Rockies on Saturday. Colorado let him go after a tough 2024 campaign that saw him post a 6.49 ERA (5.63 FIP), a 1.78 WHIP, two saves, 45 strikeouts and 33 walks in 59 2/3 relief innings. The year before, he had a career-low 3.72 ERA and a career-high 11 saves in 75 innings pitched. Most of Lawrence's struggles came from a dip in velocity on both his fastball and sinker, which led to a career-low 16.1 percent strikeout rate. Lawrence will bring experience to an inexperienced Pirates bullpen, but he won't be a lock to make the Opening Day bullpen. And if Lawrence makes the team, he'll be a late-inning setup man in front of closer David Bednar, at best.
Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Justin Lawrence was placed on waivers. After posting a 3.72 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP during the 2023 season, Lawrence took a step back in 2024 as he held a 6.49 ERA with a 11.78 WHIP. In 2023, Lawrence tallied 11 saves and tallied 78 punchouts across 75 frames. However, in 2024, Lawrence tallied just two saves with 45 strikeouts across 59 2/3 innings. Last summer, Lawrence generated a high 6.23 xERA and a .300 xBA which placed him in the first percentile in both metrics. He also generated whiffs at a low 22.6 percent rate and strikeouts at a 16.1 percent rate, which were both well below the average marks. Given his struggles last season, Lawrence will likely not draw extensive interest on waivers.
Rockies Put Justin Lawrence On 15-Day Injured List
The Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Justin Lawrence (arm) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a right-shoulder strain. In other moves, the Rockies selected the contract of left-hander Josh Rogers from the minors and recalled right-hander Peter Lambert while designating right-hander John Curtiss for assignment. Lawrence hasn't been very good at all for the Rockies in a high-leverage, late-inning role for the Rockies and is now hurt. Overall, he's gone 1-3 with a 5.91 ERA (4.11 FIP), a 1.83 WHIP, two saves, 15 walks and 20 strikeouts in 21 1/3 relief innings in his fourth big-league season. The walks haven't helped one bit, and Lawrence's recent arm injury could explain why he's been even worse recently. At the moment, Tyler Kinley and Jalen Beeks appear to be the team's top options for saves, with Kinley locking down two of the last three saves.
Rockies Reinstate Justin Lawrence From Paternity List
The Colorado Rockies announced on Monday that they reinstated right-hander Justin Lawrence from the paternity list and optioned right-hander Angel Chivilli to Double-A Hartford in a corresponding move. Lawrence was away from the club over the weekend during their series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for the start of a new series on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. The 29-year-old leads the Rockies with two saves so far this year but also has a 6.00 ERA (2.49 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. Lawrence should return to primary closing duties in Colorado but should only be attractive to fantasy managers in deeper leagues that are desperate for saves. Jalen Beeks picked up the team's last save on Friday with Lawrence away from the team.
The Colorado Rockies are expected to place right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence on the paternity list and to summon right-hander Angel Chivilli from Double-A Hartford for their upcoming series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Lawrence is technically the Rockies' closer with two saves on the year, but he's also sporting an ugly 7.20 ERA (2.94 FIP) and 1.80 WHIP with five walks and 10 strikeouts in his 10 innings in 11 appearances out of the 'pen for the lowly Rockies. The 29-year-old is only worth rostering for fantasy managers that are desperate for saves, but Lawrence isn't going to see a ton of chances if the Rockies continue playing like they have been. If a save situation arises this weekend in Pittsburgh with Lawrence away, it will likely go to Jake Bird.
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence threw a perfect ninth inning in a 10-9 victory over the San Diego Padres, picking up his second save in the process. Lawrence struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner in his inning of work. Although he hasn't been good this year, as evidenced by his 5.59 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, Lawrence still might be the best Colorado has in its bullpen. He has the team's last two saves and is likely to remain in that role. He doesn't need to be owned in standard leagues, but deeper league managers who play in saves-only formats might want to give Lawrence a look.
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence secured his first save of the season in Tuesday's victory against the San Diego Padres. Lawrence allowed a hit in the frame, but no runs, walks or strikeouts. Lawrence has struggled with a 6.23 ERA on the season, but could be the top option for a Rockies team that is unlikely to see many save opportunities this season. Between his struggles, team and home ballpark, Lawrence can be ignored in most formats at the moment.
Justin Lawrence Earns First Save Of Season Tuesday
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Padres. Lawrence came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a lineout and groundout, allowed a single, and ended the game on a flyout. Lawrence has pitched poorly overall this season with a 6.23 ERA and a 4.15 K/9 in nine appearances. The Rockies may not see many save opportunities this season, as this was just their fourth. However, Jake Bird has seen two of them and has pitched better than Lawrence, so he may be the best fantasy option right now in deeper roto leagues.
Colorado Rockies closer Justin Lawrence imploded on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits while recording just one out. Lawrence entered the ninth with the Rockies holding a 6-2 lead and exited down 7-6. The right-hander avoided the loss thanks to heroics from Ryan McMahon as the Rockies won 10-7. The 29-year-old faced many consistency issues in 2023 as the Rockies closer, and it appears he'll be a bit unpredictable again this season. After starting with a shutout appearance against Arizona, this was different from the outing Lawrence and the Rockies were hoping to follow up with. Nothing indicates that Friday's performance may bump Lawrence out of Colorado's closer role, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on it going forward.
Tyler Kinley, Justin Lawrence To Compete For Closer Role
Colorado Rockies pitchers Tyler Kinley and Justin Lawrence are set to battle for the team's closer role in spring training. "We'll talk and as this spring progresses, those conversations will tighten up about role expectations," manager Bud Black said. Kinley saved five games down the stretch in September last year after returning from Tommy John surgery, while Lawrence had a career-high 11 saves in 2023. The Rockies probably aren't going to have a ton of save opportunities, so whoever is officially named the primary ninth-inning arm won't be all that attractive to fantasy managers and will almost certainly be on a short leash. The 29-year-old Lawrence should probably be considered the favorite for the role in Colorado for now.
Justin Lawrence
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Pirates
