Texas Rangers: Lance Lynn is enjoying a career revival in Texas

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 28: Lance Lynn #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 28, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 28: Lance Lynn #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 28, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers’ starting pitcher Lance Lynn is pitching the best ball of his career since leaving the St. Louis Cardinals.

Lance Lynn, the Texas Rangers (46-36) starter, is reviving his career in the Longhorn state after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017.  He had stops with the New York Yankees (52-28) and the Minnesota Twins (52-29) last year and it didn’t go well.

Lynn had a 5.10 ERA in Minnesota and a 4.14 ERA in New York going a combined 10-10 on the year.  This year he is doing a little bit better with regards to ERA but is tied for the major league lead in wins with 10.

He has gone 10-4 with a 4.00 ERA and pitched a gem last night against one of the better teams in the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays (46-36).  He went 8 innings gave up only 3 hits and shut out the Rays while striking out 10.

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This is the lowest his ERA has been and yes, he has been lucky with run support throughout most of his starts, but he is leading the team in strikeouts with 118 and second in innings pitched at 108 2/3.

He has been incredibly durable throughout his career, averaging 193 innings pitched per season with an average of 186 strikeouts.  He is on pace to blow past those averages this season, as long as he stays healthy, which given his history, he will.

He and Mike Minor and anchoring that starting rotation with Drew Smyly having been sent to the bullpen.  Minor is leading the Rangers in ERA at 2.40 and innings pitched at 112 2/3.

Lynn is flying under the radar this season, because of his early season struggles, but because of his run support, he is winning games.  He is hitting his stride as before his last start he had gone an ERA of 3.13 in 25 1/3 innings.  If he keeps lowering his ERA and winning, he could end up having the best season of his career.

Here’s hoping that Lynn and Minor can continue dominating and help the Texas Rangers fight for a wild-card spot.  If the season ended they would be the second wild card, but they only have a game and a half lead on the Cleveland Indians (44-37)