23 August 2023
The Twins have had further discussions about shifting to a six-man rotation for the time being, manager Rocco Baldelli said, but they haven’t yet made any final decisions.
Minnesota Twins’ Jordan Luplow scores safely past Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
As the Twins get ready to welcome Joe Ryan back from the injured list — Baldelli said he expected Ryan’s next start to come with the Twins rather than in a second rehab outing — their rotation plans are momentarily in flux.
The Twins have listed Pablo López and Sonny Gray as the probable starters for Thursday and Friday against Texas, but they have yet to announce Saturday and Sunday’s starters.
One of them is expected to be Ryan, who last pitched on Friday with the Triple-A Saints on rehab. If they do opt for a six-man rotation, Dallas Keuchel’s turn in the rotation would also fall during that series.
Ryan has been on the injured list since Aug. 3, with a left groin strain, which paved the way for Keuchel to join the rotation. The 27-year-old threw 71 pitches in a four-inning start on Friday night in St. Paul, giving up one run. That start, he said, went well.
“The pitch quality was there, so that was the main focus,” Ryan said. “I felt like I could just get a little more stability in my legs.”
Ryan said he had first tweaked his groin before a start in late June in Atlanta, though the issue wasn’t said to have been brought to the attention of Baldelli or the team’s training staff until after an early August start in St. Louis in which he gave up four home runs as part of a seven-run day.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 22: Christian Vazquez #8 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at American Family Field on August 22, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Ryan credited both the Twins’ and Saints’ training staffs with helping get him back on track, as well as his work with pitching development and acquisitions specialist Matt Daniels.
“When you’re compensating, you’re moving a lot different. So just getting some of that rhythm back was important, and we got that, and I felt like that was really helpful with the St. Paul outing,” Ryan said.
Prior to going on the injured list, Ryan had given up 31 runs — and 17 home runs — in his seven starts since he said he hurt his groin in Atlanta, atypical results for the starter who pitched like an all-star for much of the first half of the season.
“You would have to think that it’s related,” Baldelli said of Ryan’s results and his injury. “But I can’t point to anything specific, besides him telling us, eventually, that his groin was tight. … If he looks good, feels good and is throwing the ball well, then we’re going to send him out there to pitch and let him go make adjustments and figure it out on the mound.”
Now, as they prepare to welcome him back, how his imminent return will impact the rest of the rotation is something the Twins will need to decide quickly.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Willy Adames celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Should they opt for a six-man rotation, there could be potential benefits for the whole staff as they prepare to pitch into October.
“If we can afford to do that, I think that’s great,” Ryan said. “Give everyone a little extra rest, especially trying to go deep here into the year. I think that totally make sense.”
Promotion time
Walker Jenkins’ first taste of professional ball has featured plenty for the Twins to like.
Jenkins, selected fifth overall in this year’s draft, hit .333 with a .390 on-base percentage and .537 slugging percentage with 18 hits in his first 14 games in the rookie level Florida Complex League.
With the FCL season coming to an end on Tuesday, the Twins announced Jenkins, 18, has been promoted to Single-A Fort Myers. He is expected to debut with the Mighty Mussels on Thursday.
Briefly
Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.13 earned-run average) will pitch the series finale in Milwaukee against 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes (9-6, 3.43 ERA). … Tuesday night marked the 1,000th game of shortstop Carlos Correa’s career.
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