Joe Ryan’s return from the All-Star break turned into a nightmare Monday night, and the Minnesota Twins right-hander made franchise history for all the wrong reasons.
In four innings against the Cleveland Guardians in the series opener, Ryan gave up a career-high six home runs as the Twins fell behind 8-2. It was his first outing for Minnesota since he worked a scoreless inning for the American League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, his second All-Star nod.
Ryan entered the night with strong numbers on the season, sitting at 6-5 with a 2.85 ERA and just 10 homers allowed over 110 1/3 innings. None of that mattered once Cleveland started launching.
Brayan Rocchio opened the damage with a two-run homer after two outs in the first inning. Rhys Hoskins followed with a solo shot, giving the Guardians back-to-back homers for the second time all season.
Cleveland kept piling on from there, even though the club came in tied for 27th in baseball with 94 home runs. Petey Halpin crushed a two-run homer in the second inning for the first home run of his MLB career. Two batters later, Travis Bazzana added another, making it Cleveland’s fourth of the night.
Hoskins struck again to begin the third, launching his second homer and the Guardians’ fifth. Then Halpin, who entered the game with a .471 OPS in 71 plate appearances, led off the fourth with Cleveland’s sixth long ball.
Ryan had previously given up five homers in a start twice. The first came at San Diego on July 29, 2022, when he allowed five home runs and a career-worst 10 earned runs. He also surrendered five in a start at Atlanta on June 27, 2023.
Monday’s line was rough across the board: a career-high 10 hits allowed in four innings, with three strikeouts.
In Other News...
Former Guardians Ace Carlos Carrasco Enters A Surprising New Career Chapter
Carlos Carrascos next stop comes after a strange stretch with the Braves, where the veteran right-hander kept bouncing between the major league roster and minor league deals while trying to stick. He logged 16 2/3 innings in Atlanta this season and also pitched well at Triple-A Gwinnett, but the constant churn left him looking for a cleaner path forward than the one he had been navigating for months.
For Cleveland fans, Carrascos latest move is another reminder of how long his career has lasted and how many turns it has taken since his peak years in the majors. He now lands in a spot where roster rules matter as much as reputation, and his new club is making room for him after moving on from Yacksel Ros. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Wont Like Whats Next For Khalil Watson
Khalil Watsons latest stint with Cleveland had the look of a player trying to force a longer stay, especially after a strong recent game gave the Guardians another reminder of what he can bring. Even so, the roster math has been working against him, and the club had to clear space for players coming off the injured list while navigating the limits that come with his option status.
For the Guardians, it is the kind of transaction that can feel more procedural than personal, even when a young player has done enough to make the decision uncomfortable. Watson has still shown enough in this stretch to matter to the organization, and the timing suggests this is more of a pause than a goodbye, with a bigger opportunity likely to come when rosters expand later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jos Ramrez Is Back But Cleveland's Lineup Questions Aren't Gone
Jos Ramrez is back in the Guardians lineup picture after being activated from the injured list before Wednesdays game, a welcome development for a club that has spent much of the summer trying to patch together its everyday order. Ramrez had been out since June 13 with a hamate bone fracture, and his return comes without a rehab assignment, a reminder of how quickly Cleveland needs its best bat back in the middle of things.
The broader roster puzzle, though, is still very much in motion. Angel Martnez is moving along on a rehab assignment as he works back from a foot fracture, giving Cleveland another potential option to monitor in the coming days as the lineup keeps shifting around injuries and availability. For now, the Guardians at least get Ramrez back, but the ripple effects of getting everyone healthy again are still only beginning to sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]