Lynn agreed to a three-year, $22 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

The pact does not buy out any of Lynn's free agent years, but it does ensure that the two sides will not require an arbitration hearing in any of Lynn's final three years of team control. Lynn, who posted a career-best 2.74 ERA last season, will likely open the 2015 campaign as the Cardinals' number two or three starter.

Lynn will be ready to go for Saturday's Game 1 of the NLCS in case Adam Wainwright is a late scratch or has to be pulled early, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Obviously the Cards would much rather have him pitch Game 2, but given Wainwright's scare earlier this week and the strong performances of John Lackey and Shelby Miller against the Dodgers, they can afford to use him in this capacity as well.

Lynn will start Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Saturday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mike Matheny announced his rotation order for the NLDS on Wednesday, and Lynn will start behind ace Adam Wainwright, with John Lackey to follow in Game 3. Shelby Miller will start Game 4, assuming neither team sweeps the series in three games. Lynn was clobbered to the tune of nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits and six walks over just eight innings in two starts against the Dodgers during the regular season.

Lynn worked six innings in Sunday's loss to the Reds, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks while racking up nine strikeouts.

The three earned runs that Lynn gave up Sunday night matched the same total he had allowed during his last three starts combined. The big right-hander has been not just the Cardinals most reliable starter here in the second half, but one of best in the NL. Over 13 outings since the break, Lynn has posted an impressive 2.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8.1 K/9 across 83 innings. He is scheduled to be back atop the mound Saturday in Arizona.

Lynn gave up one run on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in seven innings Tuesday against the Brewers.

The Cardinals' bullpen (Trevor Rosenthal) gave up the lead, denying Lynn of his 16th win of the season. It was easy to point to Lynn's solid strikeout rate and suggest he'd be a valuable fantasy pitcher once again this season, but hardly anyone could have predicted he'd have a sub-3.00 ERA, and that should be the case, as he currently boasts a 2.68 ERA with two starts left on the schedule. He'll take the mound next on Monday in Chicago and then will pitch the Cardinals' final game of the regular season Sept. 28 in Arizona.

Lynn (15-9) took a tough-luck loss in Cincinnati on Thursday, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out six in an eight-inning complete game.

Unfortunately, Johnny Cueto was one better, as he didn't allow any runs at all in his eight innings despite serving up the same amount of hits and walks. Nonetheless, Lynn continues to deliver quality starts (six straight now) and push his ERA down; at 2.73, he's in a tie with Zack Greinke for sixth-best in the National League. Lynn is scheduled for a home date against the Rockies on Wednesday.

Lynn improved to 15-8 with a victory over the Brewers on Saturday night.

He struck out six and walked four, navigating through a few bumpy frames en route to a six-inning performance where he gave up three runs -- one earned -- on five hits. Lynn will face the Reds at Great American Ballpark on Thursday in his next scheduled start.

Lynn did not record a decision Monday against the Pirates as he pitched six innings and allowed three runs, eight hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts.

Lynn has posted four straight quality starts and is having a solid season overall with a 2.85 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He doesn't provide a ton of strikeouts though as he has 150 strikeouts in 170.2 innings.

Lynn went six innings Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits while walking three and fanning three in a no-decision against the Pirates.

Lynn showed tremendous control, getting ahead of batters frequently with 22-of-28 first-pitch strikes. Despite missing out on the win, he's 14-8 on the season with a 2.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 147 K's in 164.2 innings, making him a solid second fiddle behind ace Adam Wainwright in the Cards' rotation.

Lynn pitched seven shutout-innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five batters before picking up his 14th win (14-8) of the year in Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Lynn continues to be an anchor in the Cardinals' rotation and has given up only 11 earned runs in his last nine starts (spanning 54.1 innings). With a 2.78 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 144:57 K:BB ratio in 158.2 innings pitched this year, Lynn is as reliable as they come. His next start is set for Tuesday on the road against the Pirates.