What would have been right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn’s final day of rest on Thursday before his Friday start for Triple-A Memphis has changed dramatically, both in timing and location.
Instead of facing Albuquerque at AutoZone Park, Lynn will be making his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night at Busch Stadium against the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants.
The 24-year-old will be pitching on three days of rest for the first time this season. With Memphis, he usually went on the standard four days of rest, but also had one six-day break in 2011. In one positive perhaps, that six-day-rest start was Lynn’s worst of the season.
Lynn has been pitching consistently since that six-day-rest outing. He is 4-0 with one no-decision in his last five starts, averaging 6 1/3 innings per start with a 3.73 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio in those most recent 31 1/3 innings is 31:11.
Known as a dependable workhorse, Lynn has gone less than six innings just once this season. You know which game that was…
At least since arriving at Memphis at the end of 2009, he has never started on three days rest. I didn’t go back further as recent history is clear as to his usage pattern.
Lance Lynn, Triple-A, days rest between starts
| # of starts on | 4 days rest | 5 days rest | 6 days rest |
| 2011 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 27 | 10 | 2 |
Lynn’s 2011 game log
5/30 (on five days of rest): Earned his third straight win and fifth of the season after yielding four runs on seven hits in seven innings against Omaha.
5/24 (four days): Picked up his fourth win allowing only one run on five hits at Salt Lake. Matched his season-high while striking out seven batters.
5/19 (five days): Earned his third win of the season against Tacoma giving up two runs on eight hits while walking two and fanning five.
5/13 (four days): Allowed two runs on eight hits in a no decision against Sacramento.
5/8 (four days): Fanned a season-high seven batters picking up his second win at Albuquerque.
5/3 (six days): Allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits in only 4 1/3 innings against New Orleans, walking four and striking out five while taking the loss.
4/26 (four days): Received a no decision against Iowa, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings while walking one and striking out four.
4/21 (four days): Pegged with his second loss, giving up the lone run against Omaha while walking four and fanning five in 7 1/3 innings.
4/16 (five days): Suffered his first loss of the season after six innings of work against Iowa, allowing four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out six.
4/10: Gave up only one run on six hits while striking out three en route to his first win of the season against Oklahoma City.
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Lynn and Cleto callups are confirmed.
by pushing Lynn up. will they have time to send him down for 10 days and then recall him when they next need a 5th starter (which looks like the 12th)? Not sure exactly how they count the days.
Cleto-that will really shock Crdswmn-the guy the Cards gave Brendan away for is now in the majors.Wonder how Debbie Downer will handle that?
C’mon Bw52, let’s offer more than baiting others…
What do you think of Cleto? How will he be used? Will he have his control? How long will he stay?
As an aside, I hope we all understand the reason Cleto is up from Springfield is because he is already on the 40-man roster (done before he joined StL) while most of the Memphis staff is not.
I saw Cleto pitch in Springfield on May 9, his AA debut. His first few pitches were not even close to the plate and my friend said, “This guy is a pitcher”? I chuckled and explained to him that the guy threw in the 95+ mph range and that control issues were common in pitchers that throw that hard. As Cleto continued to pitch, he got better and had a decent outing, hitting 100 mph at least once.
If Cleto can maintain control, he would be a potent weapon in the bullpen. That said, I doubt he is up for long, unless he just blows everybody away, no pun intended.
Brian-when some others offer more than constant bitching and whining it will be easier to contribute more.
As for Cleto and his time up with the team…………..strickly bullpen long man right now.Just to give the kid a taste of the bigs.He is still a work in progress isn`t here and he still needs to refine his other pitches.Even a 99 MPH fastball gets hit sometimes.Also isn`t this season Cleto`s best showing as a pro? I like the move because it shows the Cards aren`t afraid to go against the grain and bring up someone with a couple of months AA experience.Circumstances made either Cleto or Boggs the choice instead of bringing up Hamilton or Adron Chambers and having them just pinch hit .
Brian-what are the expectations on Lance Lynn in the long term? I have read several think a middle retation starter at best.Since Lynn has increased his velocity have the Cards upgraded their outlook on him?
The thing about Lynn that has impressed me the most this year – and I forgot to include it above – is that he is keeping the ball down. He gave up 21 homers last season but only one so far in 2011. Major improvement. He’s still not a ground ball specialist, but at least he is keeping the ball in the park.
It will depend on others, but I could see Lynn getting a chance at the back end of the rotation next year or he could become the next Clayton Mortensen even sooner.
If McClellan is out long term, Lynn would have the chance to be the 5th starter now. Is he ready for that? If not, then what? Outside help? Boggs?
If Lance doesn’t go deep tonight, I bet we see Cleto.
Lynn will show over the next couple of starts whether or not he is ready. That will also give Boggs some more time. My guess is that he would receive the next audition.
Jinxed again Brian.
Perhaps I should write about the Cubs tomorrow…
What I want to know is.. Will Lynn wear the short pants and show the stirrups? It worked for Brewer’s Yovani Gallardo when the borrowed Marco Estrada’s pants from the reliever’s locker so he could show his socks when he faced the Cards the day after Jaime’s almost no hitter. I like the old-school look.
Now you’re talking my language, Kansas. No more cuff draggers.
Alas, he is not….
It is possible McClellan could be done for the year. Hip flexor could be anything, none of it good.
1. Ryan Theriot, SS
2. Jon Jay, RF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Allen Craig, LF
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. Colby Rasmus, CF
7. Tyler Greene, 2B
8. Tony Cruz, 3B
9. Lance Lynn, P
How are folks liking the 3B du jour?
Descalso sucks vs lefties.
Doesn’t seem like there’s much movement on his fastball.
Lance has had a nice first three innings and now he has a little breathing room.
That was a nice two out rally in the first. Albert’s steal was key. Craig will be staying in the lineup.
Good to see Colby pour it on rounding second.
We need to get some more runs. Get back the two that Theriot gave away.
I agree. A major league shortstop has to field that ball cleanly and turn two.
The defense on this team is unacceptable.
What the hell was that?
Couldn’t have said it better.
I love Colby but when is the learning curve over?
I think I may be a little more critical than most because I still compare every center fielder to Jimmy.
As far as shortstop I think I am more realistic since Ozzie has been gone for some time but when will we get a guy who can make the routine play 100% of the time like Ozzie?
I’d like to see Jay get a shot as CF. Colby might do better at corner.
It’s sick that Lynn gets charged with 5 ERs.
The corners are taken with Holliday and Berkman
Cleto will calm down after back to back walks.
He is getting squeezed!
And he is welcomed to the big leagues:)
That is one of the reasons that I love Colby:)