White Sox Need Lynn To Reclaim Role As Workhorse In Rotation

Lance Lynn was dealing on Tuesday afternoon in Camelback Ranch. The big right-hander tossed four scoreless innings with five strikeouts during a World Baseball Classic tune-up start against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Lynn only needed 14 hitters to get through four innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. His curveball looked incredibly filthy. It was a solid showing that could be a sign of things to come when the games count this season. The White Sox are banking on Lynn to reclaim the workhorse role that Johnny Cueto filled last season.

On the surface, Lynn's 2022 campaign looks like a down year. He had a 3.99 ERA in 121.2 innings with a 1.13 WHIP. These are not bad numbers by any means, but Lynn has spoiled White Sox fans since he was traded from the Texas Rangers in December 2020.

The 34-year-old right-hander has quickly become a reliable and consistent starter for the team, and his performance on the mound helped the White Sox maintain their position as one of the top teams in the American League in 2021.

In his first season with the White Sox, Lynn posted a 2.69 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched. He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career and helped lead the White Sox to their first AL Central title since 2008. He also finished third in Cy Young Award voting. The 2022 season was a different story.

Lynn injured his knee before the regular season began keeping him on the shelf until June. In his first seven starts, he carried a 7.50 ERA as he struggled to shake off the rust. But something happened when the calendar flipped to August.

The 6'5 righty from Indiana found his rhythm and returned to form. He recorded nine quality starts in his final 12 games, with a 2.45 ERA in August and a 2.67 mark in September. The late-season resurgence got him all the way down to a sub-four ERA.

Lynn's success on the mound is due to his consistent approach and ability to execute pitches. He relies heavily on his fastball, which he throws at an average velocity of 93.8 mph, but he also mixes in a slider and a curveball to keep batters off balance. Because he leans on his fastball, overcoming knee surgery early in the year bogged him down.

The 33-year-old likes throwing a high volume of innings to prepare for the season. During one of his first appearances in a White Sox uniform, he got upset when Tony La Russa pulled him from a Cactus League start in 2021. With an entire offseason to strengthen his knee post-surgery, he is primed and ready to be a front-end of the rotation starter.

The White Sox need him to be a workhorse. Three of the five starters in the rotation enter the season with giant question marks. Lucas Giolito is trying to bounce back after a rocky 2022. Mike Clevinger is trying to shake off baggage and prove that he can be the pitcher he was pre-Tommy John surgery. Michael Kopech is trying to stay healthy for an entire season. The bullpen was dealt a significant blow with Liam Hendriks on the shelf for the foreseeable future. The more pressure the starters can take off the bullpen, the better.

Kopech and Clevinger did not really fit the description of an innings eater last season. As good as Cease was, he racks up high-pitch counts because of all his strikeouts. Lynn being able to go deep into games consistently will be integral to the White Sox success.