The Twins’ rotation took another hit, and this one comes with an All-Star attached.
Joe Ryan was sent back to Kansas City for evaluation after dealing with a glute strain, and the expectation is that he’ll miss time. For a Minnesota staff that has already been battered by injuries and lost multiple starters for the year, it’s another hard blow with two months still left in the regular season.
Ryan’s season has been a study in extremes. He opened the year looking like the anchor Minnesota wanted, posting a 2.85 ERA and 2.77 FIP through his first 20 starts before the All-Star break. Since then, the numbers have gone the wrong direction fast: in three starts, he’s up to a 3.65 ERA and 3.42 FIP after allowing 17 runs, 16 earned, over that stretch.
The injury is a new one for Ryan, but it fits the uneasy pattern that has followed him through much of his career. He has dealt with ineffectiveness and health issues in the second half before, and this season has been no different. He was shut down in 2024 with a significant teres major injury, and 2025 marked the first season of his career in which he reached 30 starts.
That kind of volatility creates real problems for Minnesota. When Ryan is right, he gives the Twins a high-end rotation piece.
When he’s out, the ceiling drops in a hurry, and the burden shifts to everyone else on the staff. It also leaves the club with even less margin for error as it tries to piece together innings.
The most likely next step is Zebby Matthews, who had been scheduled to pitch for the St. Paul Saints on Thursday night but won’t be taking that turn. Recently optioned to make room for Dean Kremer, Matthews appears positioned to fill Ryan’s rotation spot.
“Zebby Matthews is not making his scheduled start tonight for the Saints. Probably a good indication that he’ll take Joe Ryan’s next scheduled appearance on Sunday. #MNTwins”
Minnesota has not yet announced its probables for the weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Matthews could also be used Friday to keep him on schedule.
What the Twins get from him is still an open question. Matthews has a 5.22 ERA and 5.03 FIP in 14 starts this season, which explains why the organization is intrigued but not fully sold. For now, though, he looks like the next arm up as Minnesota tries to survive another turn through a rotation that keeps getting thinner.
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The Saints power surge only adds to the intrigue, with the club leading pro baseball in home runs and pushing toward the Triple-A playoffs. Cardenas has said his teammates support helped fuel the turnaround, and his recent stretch gives the Twins another name to track if they need catching help down the line. What remains to be seen is whether this improved bat is the start of a real breakout or just a hot run at exactly the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Should Be Concerned About This Byron Buxton Update
Byron Buxtons recovery from a right hip impingement has become a little more concerning for the Twins, mostly because the timeline has started to drift. The center fielder is healing, but the process is moving slower than expected, which is never ideal for a player whose availability can reshape the middle of Minnesotas lineup and defense. He also received an unspecified injection last week, a sign the club is still trying to manage the injury carefully rather than simply racing him back.
There is at least another health-related wrinkle on the roster with right-hander Zebby Matthews, whose recent start was affected by a right foot blister that tore and worsened as the outing went on. The encouraging part for Minnesota is that Matthews is not dealing with anything more serious, but the Twins are still waiting on clearer progress from Buxton, and that is the update with the bigger implications for how the club handles the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]