Matheny: Lynn letting frustration show too much

The St. Louis Cardinals want Lance Lynn to gain better control of more than just his pitch assortment. They’re trying to help him channel his emotions, too.

The right-hander has been a big success, making the All-Star team his first year in the rotation and winning 11 games prior to the break again this year. During the drought Lynn is going through right now, the frustration shows all too well.

Lynn has lost four of his last five starts and allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings his last two times out.

Manager Mike Matheny met with the young pitcher the day after watching the shoulders sag, the pace drag and the complaints pile up about broken-bat dribblers, seeing-eye hits and mistakes on defense.

“His tendency is to be that aggressive guy, to the point he doesn’t know what is expected of him,” Matheny said. “We want him to be himself but also understand there’s some things inside the game how you’re perceived, how your teammates respond.”

Lynn has been the beneficiary of prolific run support, with his average of 5.8 runs per start second most in the majors behind only Detroit 13-game winner Max Scherzer at 5.89. His 4.13 ERA is the highest on the staff by more than a run.

Rangers get Garza

The Chicago Cubs traded starting pitcher Matt Garza to Texas, giving the Rangers a pitcher they have long coveted and a boost to a starting rotation plagued by injuries.

Texas sent the Cubs rookie pitcher Justin Grimm, top prospect third baseman Mike Olt and Class-A pitcher C.J. Edwards, who pitched for the Spokane Indians last season. There will also be a player to be named later.

Suit alleges Puig lied

A lawsuit seeking $12 million from Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig says he and his mother lied to Cuban authorities about a plan to smuggle the player out of the country.

The suit filed in Miami by Miguel Angel Corbacho Daudinot lists Puig and his mother, Maritza Valdes Gonzalez, as defendants. Corbacho Daudinot is serving a seven-year sentence of “prolonged detention and torture,” which he alleges was caused by Puig and Gonzalez saying he was trying to hatch a plan to smuggle Puig out of Cuba. Corbacho Daudinot was convicted in 2010.

Puig attempted to defect several times before signing with the Dodgers last year. The $12 million equals the signing bonus Puig received in his $42 million, seven-year deal.

Clearing the bases

Dodgers OF Matt Kemp is expected to miss at least this week’s three-game series against the Blue Jays after spraining his left ankle. After missing 11 games with a sore left shoulder, Kemp came off the 15-day disabled list before Sunday’s game with Washington but limped off the field after sliding into home plate on a force play in the ninth inning. … The Chicago White Sox re-instated 1B Paul Konerko from the 15-day disabled list. … The Washington Nationals have fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein. The team is tied for 28th overall in runs and ranks 27th in batting average. He was replaced by Rick Schu, who for had been the team’s minor league hitting coordinator.