Next Shelved Pitcher? Lance Lynn

The IL giveth, and taketh away.

Making those superb Dane Dunning starts for Texas sting just a bit more, durable hoss of a pitcher and innings pitched leader for 2020, Lance Lynn, is hurt.

The copyedited White Sox release:

WHITE SOX PLACE LANCE LYNN ON 10-DAY INJURED LIST; RECALL ZACK BURDI FROM SCHAUMBURG TRAINING FACILITY

BOSTON – Prior to Game 2 of today’s split doubleheader at Boston, the Chicago White Sox placed right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 17) with a strained right trapezius and recalled right-hander Zack Burdi from the Schaumburg training facility.

Lynn, 33, is 1-1 with a 0.92 ERA, one shutout and complete game, 27 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP in three starts this season, his first with the White Sox. He has struck out 10-plus batters with zero walks in back-to-back starts, the first Sox pitcher to accomplish the feat. Lynn did not allow an earned run over his first 18 ²⁄₃ IP, the longest such streak to begin a season by a Chicago starter since Wilbur Wood went 21 innings in 1976, according to Elias.

Burdi, 26, was on the active roster on Wednesday and Thursday but did not pitch before being optioned to Schaumburg on Friday.

Burdi is racking up the frequent flier miles!

This is not great news, at all, for a White Sox starting rotation that is currently stitched together with thread. Dallas Keuchel struggles to get through five innings, and Dylan Cease can’t even accomplish that. Lucas Giolito is the only safe bet for health and pitch efficiency. For a team with ZERO starting pitching depth (the 27th man decision for today’s doubleheader came among Alex McRae, Jonathan Stiever and Reynaldo López, and yes, a reminder that this is a team aspiring to a pennant), any length of injury for anyone, much less a durable starter like Lynn, is disastrous.