The Minnesota Twins got a much-needed win Monday in Sacramento, knocking off the Athletics 9-6 after getting swept by the Padres over the weekend. That gets them back in the win column, but the road trip still has work left to do, and the timing matters.
Once this series ends, Minnesota heads home for what looks like a brutal 18-game stretch against AL playoff hopefuls. Most of that run comes against division opponents, with six games against Chicago, six more against Detroit and three against Cleveland. The Twins have little margin to waste before that grind begins.
All of that puts the spotlight right back on Joe Ryan, who has not pitched since August 4. If Minnesota is going to have a real chance to chase the playoffs, and especially if it wants any kind of postseason run, it needs its ace back on the mound.
The injury label has been a mild left glute strain, but Ryan has not sounded like someone dealing with something minor. He has been openly frustrated by the way his body has responded late in the year, and his comments have left more questions than answers.
Aaron Gleeman of the Gleeman and the Geek Podcast said, “I don’t get the sense that his return is imminent. And I’m just going off hearing from Joe Ryan, who continues to talk so cryptically about what has been diagnosed as a minor glute strain and a sore back.
And I’m not downplaying that. It’s tough to pitch when you’re not 100%.”
That unease has been building for a while, and the latest update only offers a little relief. Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported Monday evening that Twins manager Derek Shelton said Ryan is set to throw one inning of live batting practice on Wednesday, after which the team will decide the next step. Shelton also said there is still no timeline for Ryan’s return, and that rehab games will be part of the process before he can get back to a major league mound.
Ryan’s return to the mound after the All-Star break did not go smoothly. In three appearances covering 15.1 innings, he allowed 25 hits and 16 earned runs before landing on the injured list.
That’s where the concern deepens. His body clearly isn’t right, but the bigger question is whether this is only physical.
The source of the problem could be something the Twins haven’t fully pinned down, or it could be tied to the mental side as well. Given the late-season struggles he has dealt with in past years, it’s a fair question to ask.
For now, the only path forward is progress. Ryan needs to rebuild both his health and his confidence, and the Twins need him to keep moving in the right direction. With six weeks left in the regular season, the clock is already ticking on both sides.
In Other News...
Two Former Twins Still Fuel A Painful What Might Have Been
The Twins have spent enough years sorting through near-misses and roster churn to know how quickly a player can look ordinary in Minnesota and then find another gear somewhere else. Chris Colabello and R.A. Dickey remain two of the more memorable examples of that pattern, though for very different reasons. Colabello broke out with Toronto in 2015 after leaving the Twins, giving the Blue Jays an unexpected middle-of-the-order presence before a PED suspension the next season changed the arc of his career. Dickey, meanwhile, had a below-average run in Minnesota in 2009 before reinventing himself with the Mets and eventually winning the 2012 National League Cy Young Award.
For Twins fans, the connection is less about regret than the nagging sense that both stories turned into something bigger elsewhere than they ever did in Minneapolis. Colabellos rise became one of those classic late-bloomer success stories, even if it ended in controversy, while Dickeys knuckleball carried him from afterthought to ace status. Put together, they make for a painful little reminder of how unpredictable player development can be, and how often a franchise is left wondering what might have happened with just a different break or a little more time. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Outfield Logjam Is Forcing A Decision Fans Wont Like
The Twins have spent the season with a crowded left-handed outfield picture that has made it harder to sort out everyday roles and tougher to get younger players into the mix. With so many similar bats on the roster, the logjam has cut into opportunities for prospects such as Walker Jenkins and Alan Roden, while also leaving the front office with a delicate balancing act between development and winning now.
Emmanuel Rodriguez adds another layer to the problem, since he is out of minor league options for next season and will factor into whatever comes next. Minnesota has already felt the downside of the roster squeeze in its struggles against left-handed pitching, and the organization now has to decide which of these left-handed hitters can keep a meaningful spot and which ones may be squeezed out when the numbers finally force a choice. [Read more 🡒]
Former Twins Outfielder Keeps Adding To An Unsettling 2025 Pattern
James Outmans season took another turn this week when he cleared waivers and was sent to Triple-A Toledo by the Tigers after being designated for assignment to make room for Andrew Sears. For Minnesota fans, it is another reminder of how quickly the outfield churn has moved around the former Twin this year, with Outman already logging big-league time for both Detroit and Minnesota while trying to settle into a role.
The larger concern has been the same wherever he has landed: the production has not matched the opportunity. Outman has battled through rough stretches at the plate, with the batting average and strikeout numbers reflecting the kind of inconsistency that makes a player vulnerable when a club needs roster flexibility. For a former Twin who has already changed uniforms once this season, the next stop only adds to the sense that his 2025 path is still looking for a stable landing point. [Read more 🡒]