Who’s Your ALDS Game 1 Starter? Lynn or Giolito?

Oh boy. Is this a tough question to answer or what? Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the team is choosing between Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn to start Game One of the ALDS.

Lucas Giolito

The season didn’t start the way many White Sox fans had hoped for Lucas Giolito. Though, he finished with a 3.53 ERA, struck out over 200 batters, and ended up with a 4.4 BWAR. In the first half of the season, Giolito made 18 starts. He went 7-6 with a 4.35 ERA. In the second half, he made 13 starts, with one complete game, and a 2.65 ERA. What was the one complete game he pitched? Well, it was against the Houston Astros.

Giolito threw nine innings, only letting up three hits and one earned run. The second half numbers showed the elite ability that Giolito possesses. The fact he has had past success against the Astros means he may be the right guy for the job.

Lance Lynn

It’s hard to determine who the best pitcher on the staff was during the first half of the season for the White Sox. Carlos Rodón was excellent, but Lance Lynn wasn’t too far behind him. Lynn started his tenure off on the south side winning fans over with his “bulldog” mentality. In 28 games for the White Sox in 2021, Lynn possesses a 2.69 ERA, 10.1 K/9, and a 5.4 BWAR. Lynn was as consistent as they come on the mound.

In the first half of the season, Lynn went 9-3 with a 1.99 ERA in 16 starts. The second half? Lynn appeared in 12 games and had a 3.66 ERA. Now, that isn’t bad at all, but he wasn’t as crisp as he was in the first half. Lynn took on the Astros all the way back on June 19 in the first half of the season. Lynn pitched four innings, letting up eight hits and six earned runs.

It is important to remember that every pitcher in the MLB will have a bad outing here and there. What matters is how they rebound from a bad outing. Lynn and Giolito are both very capable Game One starters. Tony La Russa and Rick Hahn have a hard decision to make to pick the right guy to lead the White Sox into the postseason.

If the 2021 matchups tell you anything, it’s that Giolito had a more effective outing. If they go off of the past and what transpired, Giolito will be the Game One starter.

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I'm Buzz. I like to drink, watch the Bulls, Sox, BlackHawks, and Bears. That's about it. So, let's #Crackum. Follow @BuzzOnTap on twitter to drink some beers and watch some games.