The excitement of the Minnesota Twins calling up top prospect Kaelen Culpepper on Friday morning was overshadowed by the team placing its ace on the 15-day IL.
Twins manager Derek Shelton spoke with the media on Thursday and indicated that an IL stint would be likely for pitcher Joe Ryan. The team made it official on Friday, placing Ryan on the IL with a left glute strain. Minnesota is calling the injury a mild strain, so there is a chance that Ryan will only require a minimum IL stint.
It is unclear as to when the injury occurred, but Ryan has emerged from the MLB All-Star break as a different pitcher. He struggled mightily in his first start against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing six home runs. Ryan's next start was skipped, with the team citing arm fatigue. In his next start against the Kansas City Royals, Ryan allowed four earned runs on eight hits. He faced the Royals again in his next start and allowed five earned runs on seven hits.
Ryan, 30, was the focus of some trade rumors leading up to the MLB trade deadline. But with the Twins just 0.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot, the team decided to hold onto Ryan, and even bolstered their bullpen with the additions of Jeff Hoffman, A.J. Minter, and Dean Kremer.
In 23 starts this season, Ryan has a 6-8 record, with a 3.65 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Despite the struggles out of the break, Ryan has exhibited his usual high-strikeout and high-control combination on the mound. His 138 strikeouts to just 27 walks gives him a 5.11 K: BB ratio, higher than his career average of 4.90.
In a corresponding move, the Twins recalled starting pitcher Zebby Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul. Matthews will be the team's starter on Friday when the Twins open their series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers.
