The Minnesota Twins took two out of three games over the New York Yankees last weekend. The first series win at Yankee Stadium since 2014 has intensified the conversation about whether the Twins should be buyers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline and a big chunk of the credit goes to Joe Ryan.
The Twins ace earned his second career All-Star selection over the weekend and did his part on Sunday, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine batters in a 6-1 victory. But for as good as the outing was, the biggest impact may have come after the game, when Ryan noted his performance could help the Twins add in the build to the deadline.
“We’ve got a good stretch this month ahead of us to put our foot down and put ourselves in a spot to add in a month,” Ryan told reporters including Dan Hayes of The Athletic. “Keep going from there and play baseball as long as we can this year, keep it rolling.”
Joe Ryan could decide his fate ahead of the trade deadline
Ryan could be the one player who determines which direction the Twins will go at the deadline. He’s been solid overall this season, going 6-5 with a 3.36 ERA, 28.8 percent strikeout rate and 5.4 percent walk rate, and Sunday’s start against the Yankees was one of the best of the year. It also ended a concerning stretch for Ryan, who has allowed three or more earned runs in four of his past seven starts dating back to June 1 including six runs in his previous start against the Houston Astros on June 30.
Still, keeping Ryan may be the Twins’ best chance to claim a playoff spot and it’s within reach after last weekend’s series victory.
The Twins entered Monday 1.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for the final Wild Card spot in the American League and four games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place in the AL Central Division. While there’s plenty of time to make up that ground, the Twins will also have a chance to separate from a crowded playoff picture with their schedule in advance of the deadline.
The Guardians will visit Target Field for a three-game series that begins on Monday and is the first of seven meetings that could help the Twins get back into the division race. Minnesota also has a series against the Athletics, who enter Monday four games back of the final Wild Card spot, and the Seattle Mariners, who are currently in first place in the American League West, that could also cement their status as contenders.
The Twins could lean on an offense that is first in the AL at 4.92 runs per game to get the job done. They also appear to be getting hot at the right time, winning six of their past seven series. But they also could use a Ryan hot streak to help a starting rotation that ranks 19th with a 4.43 ERA entering Monday.
One of the top trade candidates available ahead of the deadline, Ryan is in a similar position to the Twins in that he could decide his own fate. If he pitches like he did on Sunday, that could mean setting up Minnesota for a potential return to the playoffs and some solid additions ahead of the trade deadline.
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