ST. LOUIS — Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn might have left Sunday night's start against the Reds with a better outcome if he had tried to bust Jay Bruce inside rather than serving him another outside fastball. Or, Lynn's night might have ended differently if he had just stayed away from the lefty-hitting Bruce and gone after Todd Frazier.
But with the count full, two out and the score 2-2 in the fifth, Bruce lined a two-run double to ensure Lynn would not finish with his 10th quality start (in 13) or his ninth win. Lynn finished with a so-so line of four runs allowed in six innings, equaling the most runs he has given up this season.
Still, his team went on to an 11-4 victory and Lynn remains first in the majors in wins (26) since the start of 2012. Sounding confident and comfortable in his second season as a Cardinals starter, the recently turned 26-year-old right-hander talked with FOXSportsMidwest.com about his season last week.
FSMW: Are people starting to come up to say hello to the winningest pitcher in the majors since 2012?
Lynn: No, I don't think a lot of people know. That's a good thing.
You go about your business in a quiet way and do things the right way. I don't need anybody to tell me that I'm doing a good job. As long as I'm doing what I'm capable of, I'm going to be all right.
FSMW: How do think you've improved since 2012?
Lynn: Pitching-wise, stuff-wise, I am the same. Last year, I let some things overwhelm me at times. This year, I'm not worrying about those. I'm just worrying about what I have to do to get ready for the next start.
FSMW: What's an example of being overwhelmed last year?
Lynn: Not putting a bad start behind me right away. You have to. It's in the past. You can't go back and re-play it. You have to learn to let it go, get onto the next one and be better next time out.
FSMW: You're in just your second year in the rotation but, lately anyway, you've been the second-most experienced starter. Do you find yourself one of the guys the rookies are coming to with questions?
Lynn: Yeah. It's a little easier because I'm closer in age to all of them. I'm only a couple of years older than they are, where Adam (Wainwright) is a little bit older and Chris (Carpenter) is a little bit older than Adam. That I'm the one that's done it most recently makes it easier for them to come to me sometimes. Plus, some of them I played in the minors with, so they know me a little bit more.
FSMW: Look at all the starters, young and old: Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Michael Wacha, you, Jaime Garcia, Carlos Martinez, Tyler Lyons, John Gast, Joe Kelly, et al. What's this rotation going to look like in a year or two?
Lynn: The thing is, you can never have too many starters. That's been evident this year. We have a lot of good young depth that will help in the future. Things weed themselves out. They always do.
FSMW: Has the offseason weight loss made a difference yet?
Lynn: I'm still the same pitcher I was. I'm just a little bit lighter.
FSMW: What kind of goals did you set for yourself coming into the season?
Lynn: Be who I am all year long. That is, be consistent, be the guy that they can lean on for 30-35 starts and know what they're going to get every time out. At times, I was able to do that last year. At times, I wasn't. I had a pretty good year last year but I was disappointed overall at the end of the year. I don't want that to happen again.
FSMW: You win 18 games in your first season as a starter and you're disappointed. Why?
Lynn: I felt like I left a lot on the table at times. When you do that as a competitor, it eats at you.
FSMW: What do you mean when you say you left a lot on the table?
Lynn: I didn't pitch well when I needed to, stuff like that.
FSMW: Well, a bad outing is bound to happen from time to time, isn't it?
Lynn: Not if you don't let it. You just don't let it.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @stanmcneal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
