White Sox: Lance Lynn pitches complete game shutout in home opener

Lance Lynn continued his lights out season with the Chicago White Sox by pitching a complete game shutout in the team’s home opener on Thursday.

The Chicago White Sox have not been dealt the greatest start to their season, as they are without star outfielder Eloy Jimenez due to a torn pectoral muscle and Tim Anderson is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. After seven games on the road, the White Sox returned to the Windy City to play their first home game of 2021 at Guaranteed Rate Field. And pitcher Lance Lynn made it worthwhile.

Lynn pitched a complete game shutout in Chicago’s 6-0 win over the rival Kansas City Royals. The veteran right-hander struck out 11 batters, walked zero players and allowed just five hits on 110-pitches. Lynn now holds the distinction of having the first complete game and first shutout of the 2021 MLB season.

White Sox: Lance Lynn makes a statement in home opener win over Royals

The veteran pitcher did receive some help in the batters box in the first inning on back-to-back home runs from third baseman Yoan Moncada and the red-hot rookie Yermin Mercedes to give him a 3-0 cushion. From there, Lynn did the rest and this outing is the exact reason why the White Sox acquired Lynn this offseason.

Lynn had an unreal 2020 campaign with the Rangers, as he led the league in games started (13), innings pitched (84.0) and batters faced (344). With those numbers, Lynn recorded a 3.32 ERA, 1.060 WHIP and 89 strikeouts. With the Rangers looking to rebuild, they shopped Lynn for prospects. The White Sox, looking to contend for the World Series in 2021 by creating a three-headed monster with Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel, got the Rangers to agree to a trade by sending over right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning and left-handed pitcher Avery Weems.

So far, so good for the White Sox and Lynn. In his first start of the season, Lynn struck out six batters and allowing six hits in 4.2 innings of work (99 pitches) in Chicago’s 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels this past Saturday.

Although it might only be his second start of the season, Lynn’s outing has to have White Sox fans feeling pretty good about the rotation’s chances this year.