Joe Ryan will make his final start of the 2026 season in the series opener of a three-game set against the Texas Rangers at Target Field in Minneapolis on Friday night. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. CDT. Right-hander Jacob deGrom is slated to start for the Rangers.
It very well could be Ryan's final start in a Twins uniform. Barring an extension, Ryan will be a free agent at the end of the 2027 season. Minnesota might look to move him before he hits free agency to maximize his value.
Unfortunately, the Twins won't be able to get as much in a Ryan trade as they could've received ahead of the last two trade deadlines and last offseason. Hindsight is 20/20, but the Twins have to regret not moving Ryan after missing the playoffs three straight seasons following 2023, when Minnesota won its first postseason series in 21 years against the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card round at Target Field.
Ryan had an outstanding first half of the season, recording a 2.85 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 128 strikeouts over 110 1/3 innings en route to being named to the American League All-Star Team roster. Unfortunately, Ryan's season went downhill after the All-Star break.
Ryan allowed 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings across three starts after the second half, and then was placed on the injured list with a left glute strain. Since returning from the IL, Ryan has allowed eight earned runs on 17 hits and three walks in 13 innings over three starts.
Twins RHP Joe Ryan has had rough second half after fantastic start to season
Struggling in the second half of the season isn't new for Ryan. In the first half, the right-hander has a career ERA of 3.17. In the second half, he has a career ERA of 5.02.
Hopefully, Ryan ends the season on a strong note. There's a decent chance Friday will be his last outing in a Twins uniform. Although it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Ryan struggled. The Twins are eliminated from postseason contention, so losing the rest of their games could be better for the future of the organization, as it could put them in a better position in the 2027 MLB Draft.
Entering Friday, the Twins held a 15.7% chance to earn a top-6 pick in the 2027 MLB Draft and a 1.62% chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick, according to Tankathon. A poor start from Ryan could be the best thing for the organization tonight.
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