Lynch allowed one run on five hits and struck out two in five innings in Tuesday's win over the Mariners.
It's a positive sign to see Lynch cover five innings in just his second start, especially given the condensed spring training due to the lockout. He limited the damage to a fourth-inning solo shot by Steven Souza. Lynch is in competition for a spot at the back end of the Royals' rotation -- Kris Bubic and Jackson Kowar are also in the mix in one of the team's more competitive position battles. Lynch struggled as a rookie last season, posting a 4-6 record, 5.69 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB across 68 innings, but the 25-year-old could be poised to take a step forward in 2022.