Chicago White Sox: Lance Lynn was amazingly perfect in 2021

The Chicago White Sox are winding down their 2021 season. They now have two games left after defeating the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 8-1. It was an offensive clinic that had a bit of everything from all their best players. In the meantime, Lance Lynn tossed a gem. Garrett Crochet, Ryan Tepera, Craig Kimbrel, and  Liam Hendriks back Lynn up to get a win in his final start of the season.

2020 was a year that Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel dominated at the top of the rotation. However, after those two were done, it was a bunch of question marks. Dylan Cease wasn’t where he is at now and Michael Kopech was away. Carlos Rodon was injured along with not playing well and Dane Dunning was unreliable.

That is why the White Sox knew they needed a big boost. The way they lost game three against the Oakland A’s in the 2020 postseason made it clear that they needed a third starter. That is why they traded Dunning, who was a nice young prospect with upside, for Lance Lynn.

Coming into the season, Lynn was an elite pitcher that only one year left on his deal. That made the trade a questionable one but Lynn has been so perfect for the team. He was so good in 2021 that they allowed him to sign a contract extension.

Lance Lynn has been perfect for the Chicago White Sox during the 2021 season.

There were points of the season where Lynn was considered the ace. Obviously, the emergence of Cease and Rodon made it a rotation that was five arms deep with Lynn leading the way. On Friday, he made his final start of this enchanted season that he had.

Lynn went 5.0 innings in this game against the Tigers with one run allowed on four hits with four strikeouts. Getting the win moved his record to 11-6 on the season. He had a 2.69 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 176 strikeouts. All of this came in 157.0 innings.

He came about one start away from having enough innings for the Cy Young Award. If he had reached that necessary amount of innings, he probably would have won it with those numbers. He deserves it but it is looking unlikely now with the innings.

With all of this success is going to come some type of recognition. He was an American League All-Star back in July which was a great honor for both him and the White Sox. He will certainly look back on this season and see it as a success for him and his late career.

Now Lynn is one of the most important players going into the playoffs. He is probably going to start in either game one or two of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros. Regardless of what game he pitches, he needs to be at his best.