White Sox SP Lance Lynn: ‘It’s hard to have swagger when you’re playing like sh*t’

The Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Wednesday. Lance Lynn got the win in a sharp performance for Chicago, allowing one earned run — with zero walks and eight strikeouts — in six innings pitched.

What a day for Lance Lynn:

6 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 8 K

89 Pitches – 57 Strikes (17 Swinging)pic.twitter.com/JdgDLKNuTV

— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) August 3, 2022

While this was a good day for the White Sox and Lynn, there haven’t been nearly as many as expected so far in the 2022 season.

The White Sox entered the season as the clear AL Central favorites but are currently in third place at 53-51. Granted, they’re only two games back of first-place Minnesota Twins (and one game back of the second-place Cleveland Guardians). Even through a disappointing season (featuring a sleepy, senile manager), FanGraphs currently projects the White Sox to narrowly edge out the Twins and Guardians for the AL Central crown.

Well, after Wednesday’s win, Lynn spoke with the media about the idea of the White Sox getting their swagger back.

Lynn told the media, “It’s hard to have swagger when you’re playing like sh*t.”

“We’ve got to keep playing hard, putting quality at-bats together, making our pitches. If we start doing that, start winning games, that’s when the swagger comes back. It’s hard to have swagger when you’re playing like sh*t.”

That sounds like a Lance Lynn quote, alright.

Lynn, 35, is a two-time All-Star, including last year with Chicago. After putting together a 2.69 ERA over 157 innings pitched in 2021, Lynn has struggled to the tune of a 5.87 ERA this season.

So, he’s a perfect example of how it’s gone for the White Sox this season, and perhaps he’ll turn it around over the final two months. That would play a big part in helping the White Sox win more games- and get their swagger back.

[Vinnie Duber of CHGO on Twitter]