Alex Lange promises he isn't fatigued.
"I'm ready to go," he said.
But Lange's results since the All-Star break suggest something isn't right. The Detroit Tigers' right-handed reliever has allowed 16 earned runs with nine walks and 25 strikeouts over his past 16 innings (18 games).
Lange is still getting whiffs when he throws his nasty curveball, but for the first time this season, opponents are making consistent contact with his premier pitch. The month of August has been especially troubling.
"When you don't execute in this league, they're going to hit you," Lange said.