Lynn has lost 20 pounds this offseason after dealing with nagging right knee issues during the 2024 season, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.
Lynn was limited to just 117.1 innings in 2024, which was his lowest full-season total other than in 2016 when he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old went on the injured list twice with knee problems and decided he needed to drop some weight to take pressure of his knee if he wanted to continue pitching. A free agent, Lynn said he's been "surprised by the number of teams that have called" this offseason to express interest in signing him. The righty held a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 109:44 K:BB in 117.1 innings across 23 starts for the Cardinals this past season.
... See More... See Less
Lance Lynn: Option for 2025 not picked up
Rotowire
The Cardinals will decline Lynn's (knee) $11 million club option for 2025, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The team will pay Lynn a $1 million buyout instead. Lynn posted a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 109:44 K:BB in 117.1 innings across 23 starts for St. Louis in 2024. He ended the season on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation but should be healthy by spring training, and the 37-year-old has said he intends to continue his career in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Season over due to sore knee
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed Lynn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right knee inflammation.
Lynn picked up a win Tuesday, holding the Pirates to one run over six innings. However, his knee has been an issue off and on throughout the 2024 campaign, and the Cardinals have decided it was for the best to shut him down. St. Louis has been using a six-man rotation lately, so they could either go back to a traditional five-man setup for slide Steven Matz or Michael McGreevy into Lynn's spot.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Earns win over Pirates
Rotowire
Lynn (7-4) allowed a run on four hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings to earn the win over the Pirates on Tuesday.
Lynn has looked good over two starts since returning from a knee injury. He's allowed two runs while striking out 12 over 11 innings since his return, and he was able to get the win after the Cardinals gave him some run support Tuesday. The veteran now has a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 109:44 K:BB through 117.1 innings across 23 starts. He's projected for a road start at Colorado next week, which could be his last outing of the year if the Cardinals finish the campaign with a six-man rotation.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Strikes out seven in return
Rotowire
Lynn allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on Wednesday.
Lynn pitched for the first time since the end of July after missing nearly six weeks with right knee inflammation. He was sharp in his return, throwing 62 of 90 pitches for strikes and limiting the Reds to a Santiago Espinal RBI single in the fourth inning. Lynn has had middling results this year, though he was improving prior to the injury. The 37-year-old is now at a 3.96 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 104:42 K:BB through 111.1 innings over 22 starts this season. Lynn is projected to make his next start at home versus the Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Cardinals activated Lynn (knee) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Lynn will rejoin the rotation Wednesday versus the Reds after missing the last six weeks of action with right knee inflammation. He made one rehab start, allowing five runs over 3.2 innings while throwing 80 pitches for Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 1. The last couple spots in the St. Louis rotation are in flux, so Lynn likely will need to pitch well in order to continue being given additional starts down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Set to rejoin rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Lynn (knee) is scheduled to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Reds, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
The 37-year-old threw 80 pitches while giving up five runs over 3.2 innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 1, and his next game action will come with the big-league club. Lynn landed on the shelf at the end of July due to knee inflammation, but he'll be back with the Cardinals for a few starts down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Yields five runs in rehab start
Rotowire
Lynn (knee) gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over 3.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Memphis.
After tossing a pair of live batting practice sessions, Lynn was able to handle a healthy workload in his rehab outing for Memphis, tossing 80 pitches (54 strikes). Though Lynn seems to be fully stretched out and healthy again after landing on the injured list July 31 with right knee inflammation, the Cardinals may want to see a sharper performance from the 37-year-old in the minors before adding him back to the big-league rotation. The Cardinals have already announced their starting pitchers through Sunday, so Lynn seems likely to make another rehab start or throw a simulated game before returning from the IL, perhaps at some point early next week.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Throwing another live BP
Rotowire
Lynn (knee) threw a session of live batting practice Tuesday and is scheduled for another session Monday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol previously indicated Lynn might be able to return from the 15-day injured list following Tuesday's live BP, but the right-hander will need at least one more session before being activated. The 37-year-old threw the equivalent of three innings and should continue building up his workload in the next session before potentially rejoining the rotation later next week.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Approaching last step of rehab
Rotowire
Manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Lynn (knee) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday and could return to the rotation afterward, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
After throwing 35 pitches without feeling pain in his right knee during a bullpen session Friday, Lynn was cleared to face batters. Assuming all goes well with Tuesday's live session, Lynn could supplant Andre Pallante in the rotation as soon as Friday's series opener against the Twins. Lynn hasn't pitched for St. Louis since July 30 due to inflammation in his right knee. In three starts prior to sustaining the injury, Lynn allowed three runs with 11 strikeouts across 16 innings.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Slated for another side session
Rotowire
Lynn (knee) will throw another bullpen session Friday or Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Lynn completed Monday's session without issue, hurling around 20 pitches at 75 percent effort, per Denton. The team will take the next few days to ensure he's feeling strong before sending him out for another throwing session later in the week. It's unclear if Lynn, who last started July 30, will need a rehab assignment or if he'll be able to build up on the side before rejoining the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Throwing bullpen session
Rotowire
Lynn (knee) said in an appearance on the "Foul Territory" program that he'll throw a bullpen session Monday.
While the hurler noted that he should have more clarity on his timetable after the throwing session, he hopes to return from the 15-day injured list "hopefully within the next time or two through the rotation." Lynn has been sidelined since late July with right knee inflammation.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Lynn (knee) had imaging come back clean, and the right-hander will be shut down for a couple days after receiving an injection, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.
The 37-year-old landed on the shelf Wednesday due to right knee inflammation, and that initial diagnosis has been confirmed after being evaluated further. Assuming Lynn is able to quickly return to throwing, his stint on the injured list may not end up being much longer than the 15-day minumum.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Goes on IL with knee inflammation
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed Lynn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right knee inflammation.
Lynn has apparently been dealing with the knee issue for a couple starts and was seen limping around the clubhouse after Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Rangers. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in mid-August and has a shot to be ready around that time, as the team believes a little rest will help. The newly acquired Erick Fedde will slide into Lynn's rotation spot, and Andre Pallante will also remain in the rotation for the time being.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Stingy in sixth win
Rotowire
Lynn (6-4) picked up the win in Tuesday's 8-1 victory over the Rangers, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.
The veteran right-hander got lifted after 87 pitches (49 strikes) with the Cardinals having already done all their scoring for the night. An 11-run disaster against the Nats on July 6 is still marring his numbers, but over his last six starts Lynn has given up two runs or fewer in each of the other five, winning four of them and lasting at least five innings in all five. He'll take a 4.06 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 97:41 K:BB through 106.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Delivers five scoreless frames
Rotowire
Lynn allowed four hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a no-decision Tuesday against the Pirates. He struck out two.
It didn't come easy for Lynn on Tuesday -- the veteran right-hander had to work out of a pair of bases-loaded jams. Still, Lynn would make it through five innings unscathed in an eventual 2-1 Cardinals victory. The 37-year-old Lynn was tagged for 10 earned runs on July 6 against the Nationals, though he's now held opponents to two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings. Overall, Lynn is 5-4 on the year with a 4.17 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 94:40 K:BB across 101.1 innings. He's currently in line for a home matchup with the Rangers early next week in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Cruises to fifth win
Rotowire
Lynn (5-4) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.
The Cardinals struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, letting Lynn cruise to his sixth quality start of the season on 99 pitches (68 strikes). The veteran right-hander is closing in on an impressive milestone, as he sits two strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career, a mark only five other active pitchers -- Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole -- have reached. Lynn's won three of his last four starts, but the fourth was an ugly outing July 6 against the Nationals in which he got tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) in 2.2 innings. He'll take a 4.39 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 92:37 K:BB through 96.1 innings into the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Sharp in third win
Rotowire
Lynn (3-3) allowed a run on four hits over 6.2 innings Monday, striking out five and earning a win over Atlanta.
Lynn turned in four shutout frames before coughing up a solo homer to Austin Riley in the fifth inning, but he was otherwise nearly untouchable. It was a much-needed rebound for Lynn, as he registered an unsightly 7.90 ERA over 13.2 innings in his previous three outings. He earned his first win since May 21 with his longest outing since April 16, lowering his season ERA to 3.86 with a 78:30 K:BB through 16 starts. Lynn's next outing lines up for this coming weekend at home against the Reds.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Yields four unearned runs
Rotowire
Lynn gave up four runs, all unearned, on three hits and two walks while striking out four over four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Phillies on Sunday.
An error by the usually sure-handed Masyn Winn in the second inning ultimately allowed two runs to score. In the fifth, Lynn and catcher Ivan Herrera each committed an error as well, allowing the Phillies to generate another two runs. Since the Cardinals' defense let him down, Lynn will avoid any damage on his ERA, which is now at 3.23 on the year after this short outing. He's allowed at least four runs in four of his last six starts, which is the more concerning issue at hand. Lynn also has a poor 1.34 WHIP and 57:25 K:BB through 61.1 innings. The veteran right-hander is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rockies.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Pitches well before weather delay
Rotowire
Lynn (2-2) allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out five without walking a batter over six innings versus the Orioles on Tuesday before the game was suspended due to inclement weather in the sixth inning. He ultimately picked up the win once the game resumed Wednesday.
The game will be completed prior to Wednesday's regularly-scheduled contest, though Lynn's involvement is almost certainly done. This was arguably his best outing of the season, and it's impressive he did it against an offense as strong as Baltimore's. Through 51.1 innings over 10 starts, Lynn has a 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB. The veteran right-hander's next start is projected to be on the road versus the Reds.
