This year, no is one pitching more than Lynn

'I have this big body for a reason': right-hander ends his, Texas' skids

September 9th, 2020

Right-hander is known for his ultra-competitiveness, and that may be what the Rangers love most about him.

He threw 114 pitches over seven innings on Tuesday night and helped end Texas' six-game losing streak with a 7-1 victory over the Angels at Globe Life Field. Lynn also snapped his own two-game losing streak.

In doing so, Lynn has now thrown 100-plus pitches in 34 consecutive starts, the longest such streak by a Rangers pitcher since pitches were officially counted in 1988. It is the fourth longest by any pitcher since then.

But Lynn seemed more dismayed about hitting three batters with pitches, including Justin Upton twice. He did so with Upton leading off the second and again with one out and a runner on third in the fourth. Both times came on 3-2 fastballs, hitting the Angels outfielder in the left arm/wrist area. It was the 17th time in Rangers history that a pitcher has hit three batters in a game.

“You never want to hit a guy, ever,” Lynn said. “Then to do it multiple times up in the same area. ... I think that's what gets you the most, is you never want to go up high, no matter what, even if you're trying to do it on purpose. You just can't go up there. I was actually trying to go down and away."

The second forced Upton -- who was diagnosed with a left hand contusion -- from the game, and Lynn was visibly upset on the mound. After Lynn got Max Stassi to ground into an inning-ending double play, he exchanged some conciliatory words with first-base coach Jose Molina.

“I have played against Justin a long time,” Lynn said. “When you hit a guy twice and then it takes him out of the game -- and a guy that you respect who plays the game hard, and you know does all the right things and has been a great dude -- you definitely don't want to definitely knock him out of the game. So, that was probably the thing that gets you the most.”

Lynn, leading 3-0, gave up a home run to Jared Walsh to lead off the fifth, and that was all. He ended up allowing four hits with two walks against six strikeouts. He is now 5-2 with a 2.52 ERA after 10 starts. Opponents are hitting .182 off him, which would be the second lowest mark by a qualifying pitcher in club history.

“We all know he doesn’t hit people like that,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “He is not as wild as that. But for him to hone it down and get back in the zone ... he’ll sit there and tell you he didn’t have his best stuff, but he competed. That’s what you get from Lance every night. That’s what we love about Lance. He’s going to give you that 115 pitches, and he is going to be right in your face all game.”

The 114 pitches, in addition to extending his streak, gave him 1,087 over 10 starts on the season. That’s the most by any pitcher in the Majors this year.

“You take a lot of pride in taking the ball every five days and going out and doing everything you can for as long as you can,” Lynn said. “I can do it longer than most, so I enjoy that, too. Wear and tear? I don’t see it. That’s what I work for in between every start and every offseason. I have this big body for a reason, and I use it.”

Lynn threw the second most pitches per game last season, averaging 107.7 pitches over 33 outings, and has come out strong this season after the extended layoff. His workload this season may end up benefiting him given the short season, and he’ll likely make just three more starts this year.

“To get as many starts as you can and as many innings as you can is going to be huge for next year,” Lynn said. “At this time next year, when you are at the 150-plus inning mark, you have to be ready to go, especially if you want to push to the playoffs. You have to do anything you can and everything you can down the stretch to make sure you have what you need for next year.”