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Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
34-Year-Old PitcherSP
Chicago White Sox
2021 Stats
W-L
10-4
ERA
2.50
WHIP
1.05
K
161
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
W-L
ERA
WHIP
K
SV
Unlock Our Projections
2021 Fantasy Outlook
Since missing the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, Lynn has racked up innings like few other pitchers in the league -- he ranks ninth in innings pitched since the beginning of 2017 (635.1). That didn't change in 2020 as Lynn worked fewer than six innings in only two of his 13 starts. Lynn's success is supported by the skills and he backed his jump in 2019 with another K-BB rate greater than 15% across 84 innings. Most of Lynn's success can be credited to his fastball, which has limited opposing batters to a near-.200 BAA and a SLG just over .400 the past two campaigns. The only real blemish in Lynn's 2020 profile was a 1.40 HR/9, though three of the 13 home runs he surrendered came in his final start. Lynn doesn't have the gaudy strikeout totals of Gerrit Cole or Jacob deGrom, but has proven himself the past few seasons and now gets to feast on the AL Central after a December trade to the White Sox. Read Past Outlooks
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RANKSFrom Preseason
#54
ADP
#Subscriber-Only
Overall
#Subscriber-Only
Dynasty
League Majors
Bats R
Throws R
40 Man Yes
Height 6'5"
Weight 250
DOB 5/12/1987
Born Marion, IN
College Mississippi
Drafted 2008 STL
$Signed a two-year, $37 million contract extension with the White Sox in July of 2021. Contract includes $18 million team option ($1 million buyout) for 2024.
Dazzles in return to mound
PChicago White Sox
September 13, 2021
Lynn allowed just two hits and struck out nine over five innings Sunday against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision.
ANALYSIS
Lynn pitched for the first time since Aug. 28 after a brief stint on the injured list and showcased some of his best stuff of the season. The 34-year-old did not issue any free passes. He had 13 swings and misses to strike out nine batters, his highest total since July 2. He was pulled after throwing just 70 pitches despite being in a nice groove. Lynn now owns a 2.50 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 161:42 K:BB over 140.2 innings. He lines up for a very favorable matchup against the Rangers next weekend.
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Pitching Stats
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2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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2019 MLB Game Log
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2018 MLB Game Log
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2017 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
91
Last 10 Games
85
Last 5 Games
89
How many pitches does Lance Lynn generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Lance Lynn generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2019
 
 
-14%
BAA vs RHP
2021
 
 
-16%
BAA vs RHP
2020
 
 
-8%
BAA vs LHP
2019
 
 
-18%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2019vs Left .236 916 215 81 195 42 3 19
Since 2019vs Right .203 856 276 44 161 31 4 28
2021vs Left .219 292 73 30 57 12 0 8
2021vs Right .184 282 88 12 49 6 1 8
2020vs Left .182 166 45 10 28 5 0 5
2020vs Right .197 157 39 14 27 8 0 5
2019vs Left .267 458 97 41 110 25 3 6
2019vs Right .219 417 149 18 85 17 3 15
More Splits→ View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2019
 
 
-6%
ERA at Home
2021
 
 
-11%
ERA on Road
2020
 
 
-1%
ERA on Road
2019
 
 
-9%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2019Home 3.13 1.10 241.2 21 6 0 10.2 2.6 1.0
Since 2019Away 3.34 1.18 191.1 11 12 0 10.4 2.6 1.1
2021Home 2.60 0.98 90.0 6 3 0 10.8 2.4 1.3
2021Away 2.31 1.18 50.2 4 1 0 9.4 3.2 0.5
2020Home 3.33 1.15 48.2 5 2 0 10.7 3.7 1.3
2020Away 3.31 0.93 35.1 1 1 0 7.9 1.3 1.5
2019Home 3.50 1.18 103.0 10 1 0 9.4 2.4 0.6
2019Away 3.84 1.25 105.1 6 10 0 11.8 2.7 1.2
More Splits→ View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Lance Lynn compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
3.83
 
K/9
10.3
 
BB/9
2.7
 
HR/9
1.0
 
Fastball
93.4 mph
 
ERA
2.50
 
WHIP
1.05
 
BABIP
.276
 
GB/FB
0.95
 
Left On Base
83.6%
 
Exit Velocity
81.1 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
3.3%
 
Spin Rate
2389 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
20.9%
 
Swinging Strike
12.2%
 
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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White Sox Depth Chart
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Lance Lynn
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: The Race to 200 Innings
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: The Race to 200 Innings
5 days ago
5 days ago
Todd Zola ranks the week's starting pitching as top-ranked Gerrit Cole likely will be with the great majority of starters who won't reach 200 innings this year.
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: A September to Remember?
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: A September to Remember?
12 days ago
12 days ago
Todd Zola ranks the week's starting pitching as September opens with both Cy Young awards still to be decided.
MLB FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
MLB FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
14 days ago
14 days ago
Jason Shebilske analyzes the top waiver-wire options of the week, including Boston's Bobby Dalbec, who's been one of the hottest hitters in baseball recently.
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Two Wheelering
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Two Wheelering
19 days ago
19 days ago
Todd Zola ranks the week's starting pitching, led by Zack Wheeler facing a pair of favorable matchups.
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Flaherty will get you everywhere
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Flaherty will get you everywhere
26 days ago
26 days ago
Todd Zola ranks the week's starting pitching, as Jack Flaherty has a pair of soft matchups.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2010
Lynn's average fastball velocity increased for the third straight season. In addition, for the second year in a row he defied the odds, being quite stingy with the homers, especially since he worked most of the time in some of the friendliest power venues in the league. Lynn averaged a career best 94.6 mph on his four-seamer, using it and his 89-mph cutter more while throwing his sinker less. The result was a career-high 21.4 K-BB%, fueled by a career-low 6.7 BB%. Despite quality underlying metrics, Lynn will be hard-pressed to maintain the full extent of his 2019 gains. However, early indications are the new Globe Life Field will be more pitcher friendly than Globe Life Park, so the landing should be soft. Despite missing 2016 after Tommy John surgery, Lynn's 221 starts since 2012 are the 19th most in MLB. Lynn's ceiling is limited, but he provides a solid foundation, stabilizing any fantasy rotation.
The hope for Lynn in 2018 was that his command would come back and allow him to keep the ball in the yard and lower his ERA. Command is typically the last piece of the puzzle to return for pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery, and we saw that from Lynn in 2017 as he allowed too many homers. He reduced his homers in 2018, but Lynn walked 11% of the batters he faced which offset his gains in home-run suppression and helped push his ERA up nearly to where his 2017 FIP was. The larger jump was a 120-point spike in his BABIP, so increased hits plus increased walks led to increased runs allowed. His numbers with the Yankees, in a small sample size, were much better than what he did with the Twins, and Lynn credited a change in mound positioning for much of his late success. He will slot in near the top of the Rangers' rotation after signing a three-year, $30 million contract in December.
While Lynn managed to outperform his peripherals for most of the season (4.82 FIP, 4.75 xFIP), the regression monster finally caught up to him late. The right-hander turned in a sub-3.00 ERA over his first 29 starts, but limped to the finish line with a 9.20 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB over his final four outings. Lynn's first season back from Tommy John surgery has to be considered a success regardless, although he's behind the times in a sense; the league is moving away from the (non-blistering) fastball, and Lynn threw his low-90s fastball 81 percent of the time last season. The lack of faith in his breaking and offspeed pitches puts Lynn in a tough spot in today's game, with so many hitters sitting dead-red on fastballs. Lynn, who signed with the Twins in March, will likely be overvalued in some circles as owners chase last season's ratios. Things could get significantly worse.
Because he was slated to miss the season rehabbing Tommy John surgery, Lynn was out of the fantasy baseball conversation for 2016. Fortunately for the Cardinals and fantasy owners alike, the procedure was a success and Lynn is expected to return to action in 2017. Although it may take a few outings for him to hit his previous stride, as he'll have been away from the majors for over a year, Lynn will look to return to his 2014 and 2015 form. Lynn threw 6.2 innings across three rehab starts in the minors at the latter end of 2016. Although it was a minuscule sample size against subpar competition at High-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield, the outings were encouraging nonetheless as he recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just one earned run without surrendering a single walk. Lynn is expected to begin 2017 as a fixture in the St. Louis rotation again and could be a sneaky pick late in fantasy drafts.
Lynn turned in a very good 2015 but began to fade in the second half on his way to posting a 3.03 ERA in 175.1 innings. It was discovered early in the offseason that Lynn had pitched through pain for much of the season following his short DL stint in June with a forearm strain. That discovery led to successful Tommy John surgery which means Lynn will miss the entire 2016 season, obviously making him irrelevant in redraft leagues. If Lynn can return with the velocity and strikeout ability he displayed prior to surgery he should be a good bet to bounce back nicely in his age-30 season. The success rates for Tommy John surgeries are incredibly high now and there's no reason to think Lynn won't be a solid fantasy asset when he does return in 2017.
Lynn delivered his best season as a pro in 2014, going 15-10 with a terrific 2.74 ERA while posting his second consecutive season with over 200 innings. While his xFIP of 3.81 confirms what most already know, that he wasn't quite as good as the low ERA might indicate, Lynn still is a quality fantasy arm who's even more valuable in real life. Consistent middle-of-the-rotation innings eaters are not easy to find, and he's been just that for the Cardinals and is still only 27 years old. While his numbers may not be all that exciting, he should still deliver quality numbers in 2015 for his fantasy owners and likely at a very reasonable cost. His ERA may come up from 2014 but, locked into the number three spot in the rotation on what should be an improved Cardinals team, so should his win total.
Lynn was inconsistent again in 2013, but still managed to put up very good numbers for the Cardinals by season's end. The 26-year-old broke 200 innings for the first time in his career and won 15 games while posting a 3.66 xFIP and striking out 198 batters. Lynn gave up more flyballs last season, but fewer of them led to home runs as his HR/FB mark fell from 10.4% in 2012 to 7.4% last season. He still is just entering his prime and should only improve in 2014. Expect Lynn to work the middle of the rotation for the Cardinals in 2014.
Lynn was one of the bigger surprises stories in baseball last season, filling in admirably for Chris Carpenter and making 29 starts one season after holding a relief role for the Cardinals down the stretch. On a monthly basis, Lynn's performance was uneven and some owners panicked when he struggled in August (6.66 ERA, 1.91 WHIP in seven appearances), but he rallied in September to post a 34:7 K:BB, 2.76 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over his final eight appearances. Despite racking up 180 strikeouts in 176 frames last season, Lynn's hold on a rotation spot is surprisingly weak given the Cards' arsenal of quality arms. Ultimately, Lynn appears to be a good bet to open the year as a stater, but he will need to continue to pitch well in order to keep his spot for all of 2013.
It's not often you see a rookie get placed on the 60-day DL in August yet still pitch in the World Series, but a strained oblique muscle ended Lynn's strong rookie campaign (at least the regular season part) on Aug. 9. A starter throughout his minor league career, Lynn was called up in June for a couple of spot starts while Kyle McClellan was on the DL, but stuck around as a reliever the rest of the way. He excelled in his new role with a 2.22 ERA, 0.945 WHIP, and a 32:8 K:BB ratio in 24.1 innings. If the Cardinals need him in a pinch, he can probably go five innings, but it looks like his short-term role is as a reliever.
Lynn has risen through the Cardinals' system very quickly. The 2008 draft pick out of Ole Miss got better as the season went along (5-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 11 second-half starts for Double-A Springfield). His walk rate is nothing special, and his strikeout rate in Springfield was a bit lower than one might expect, but Lynn is very polished and could find himself making spot starts for the Cards as early as this summer.
More Fantasy News
Reinstated from injured list
PChicago White Sox
September 10, 2021
Lynn (knee) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.
ANALYSIS
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Should return Sunday
PChicago White Sox
Knee
September 9, 2021
Lynn (knee) is expected to return from the injured list to start Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Another bullpen on tap
PChicago White Sox
Knee
September 7, 2021
Lynn (knee) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Throwing bullpen session
PChicago White Sox
Knee
September 7, 2021
Lynn (knee) is throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Only missing one start
PChicago White Sox
Knee
August 31, 2021
Lynn (knee) will only miss one start after being placed on the injured list with right knee inflammation, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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