Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah is far from the only ace struggling this season

Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox

Another pitcher that jumps out right away is one that was actually an AL Cy Young finalist along with Manoah just this past year. That pitcher is Chicago White Sox ace, Dylan Cease. For 2023, Cease has posted a 3-3 record, to go along with a 4.63 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, giving up 35 earned runs including eight home runs, 32 walks and 74 strikeouts over 68 innings. If it wasn’t for a solid outing in his most recent start, his numbers would have been even uglier. Cease was counted on by his team to lead the charge this year, as he was appointed the Opening Day starter at the beginning of the year, similar to what the Jays did with Manoah. However, his miserable start to the season has contributed to his team’s struggles, as overall they are still sub .500 team going into the third month of the season.

Lance Lynn, Chicago White Sox

Even worse for the White Sox was that their second front-end, ace-type starter Lance Lynn was undergoing the same struggles at the same time for the ballclub. A former AL Cy Young finalist in 2021 with a career ERA of 3.64 and WHIP of 1.27, Lynn has gotten off to his worst start to the season in his career. His horrid numbers include an eye-popping 6.55 ERA, along with an ERA + of 67 and WHIP of 1.52, giving up 49 earned runs (including 15 home runs already), 26 walks and 76 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched. It’s no wonder that the White Sox have been underperforming this year, when two of the best starters are just treading water just to survive so far this season.