Lance Lynn DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that free-agent right-hander and long-time starter Lance Lynn is getting looks on the open market this offseason as a potential ninth-inning arm, according to his agent Kevin Lustig. The 37-year-old has not pitched out the bullpen since 2018. Lynn said he's "intrigued" about being a closer. Several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels, are still searching for late-inning help. Lynn made five relief appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals as a rookie in the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers. The free-agent market remains crowded with starting arms, so it may make sense for Lynn to market himself as a potential reliever, especially after he pitched just twice after July 30 last year due to knee inflammation. After dropping around 20 pounds this offseason, Lynn would have more fantasy appeal closing out games.

Free-agent veteran right-hander Lance Lynn said that he has lost 20 pounds already since the end of last season, dropping from 280 to 260 pounds. Lynn battled knee issues in 2024 and was limited to 117 1/3 innings, his lowest total over a full season since missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old became a free agent when the St. Louis Cardinals declined his $12 million club option for 2025. He's nearing the end of his career, but Lynn ranks sixth in the majors with 2,006 1/3 innings pitched since debuting in 2011. The last time Lynn reached 30 starts and 200 innings was back in 2019, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a sudden breakout for the veteran hurler. Knee issues dating back to 2021 and a lack of strikeout stuff will make Lynn an easy pitcher to avoid in shallow mixed fantasy leagues, regardless of where he's pitching.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee) was placed on the 15-day IL earlier on Wednesday due to right knee inflation and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals promoted their No.10 ranked prospect, Michael McGreevy, from Triple-A Memphis. Through his first season in St. Louis, the 37-year-old held a 3.84 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with a 44:109 BB:K ratio. After struggling through the first half of the summer with a 4.96 ERA, Lynn settled down in the second half with a much-improved 1.29 ERA. McGreevy made one appearance in the big leagues earlier this summer, back in July, where he tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to how McGreevy performs over the final week of the season as he could contend for a spot in the rotation next spring.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) will come off the 15-day injured list to start for the Cardinals next Wednesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Lynn will return to the big leagues for the final couple weeks of the 2024 regular season and will be in play as a deep-league streamer with limited upside for several start to finish out September. He was able to get up to 80 pitches in a minor-league rehab start last Sunday in which he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Lynn should be limited from a pitch-count perspective, but he just doesn't offer much upside at all at this point of his career and hasn't pitched for St. Louis since the end of July. On the flip side, Lynn has been great in his two starts against Cincy in 2024, allowing only three runs (one earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out 11 in 12 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) had a tough time in his latest minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Lynn threw 54 of his 80 pitches for strikes and should be able to return to St. Louis' starting rotation soon after being out since late July with inflammation in his right knee. However, there's also a chance that Lynn will be required to make one more rehab start after surrendering five runs on Sunday. When the 37-year-old does return to the big-league rotation, he'll be a low-upside arm for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to close out the season. The former first-rounder in 2008 out of Mississippi has a weak 20.8% strikeout rate and an ERA above 4.00 in 21 starts covering 106 1/3 innings in 2024.