The Minnesota Twins are vying for a postseason spot this year, with the franchise even buying at the trade deadline.
But the team will now have to navigate the next stretch of games without ace Joe Ryan. Ryan will be heading to the injured list after an MRI revealed he has a mild left glute strain.
Twins’ Joe Ryan Likely Heading to Injured List
Twins insider Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported the news on social media.
MRI showed Joe Ryan has a mild left glute strain. IL stint likely. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 6, 2026
Ryan made his last start on Tuesday this week against the Kansas City Royals, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. The right-hander struck out three batters and recorded two walks as well.
But his velocity on the fastball was down, leading to some worry about the team. Ryan saw his average velocity come in at 92.2 mph, down from the normal average of 93.5.
Something has clearly been off with Ryan, as he’s struggled over his last three starts. Ryan has allowed 17 runs (16 earned) over 15.1 innings in this span of time.
“Yeah I guess,” Ryan said. “Certain things I’m working on still and trying to figure out. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Here is how the last few outings have looked for Ryan:
@ Cleveland Guardians: 4.0 innings, eight earned runs on 10 hits, six home runs allowed, and three strikeouts
vs Kansas City Royals: 6.0 innings, four earned runs on eight hits, one home run allowed, and four strikeouts
@ Kansas City Royals: 5.1 innings, five runs allowed (four earned) on seven hits, two walks allowed, and three strikeouts
It hasn’t been pretty for Ryan of late, but overall he’s put together a nice season for the Twins. For the year, ther right-hander owns a 3.65 ERA over 23 starts.
Ryan again was named to the All-Star team this year, marking his second straight appearance. But someone has been up with the right-hander of late, with the Twins determined to get to the bottom of it.
Twins manager Derek Shelton also provided an update on his ace earlier this week.
“It’s very obvious that Joe is frustrated with where he’s at, and I think we owe it to him and to us to kind of figure out, and give ourselves the best situation to figure out where he’s at physically,” Shelton said.
Twins Postseason Outlook
With Ryan out for some time, others on the Twins staff will need to step up. Minnesota is currently 56-59 on the season, sitting in third place within the American League Central division.
The Twins are just four games back of the first-place Chicago White Sox, giving them a decent shot to make the postseason. Minnesota is directly in the hunt for a wild-card spot amid a crowded AL playoff race.
The odds for the Twins to reach the postseason were already low heading into the season, but Minnesota has surprised people this year. But the loss of Ryan, even for a short time, could hamper the playoff bid of this team.
Twins Reveal Concerning Joe Ryan Injury Update Amid Playoff Bid