Twins All-Star Joe Ryan being evaluated for back, glute injuries amid skid after loss to Royals

Minnesota pitcher Joe Ryan is headed back to Minneapolis while dealing with a back and glute issue.

>The Twins All-Star left the team after starting in their 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Missouri on Tuesday. He’ll be evaluated by their team doctor, though specifics of his injury are not yet known. His next start is now very much in doubt.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” manager Derek Shelton said on Wednesday, via The Athletic. “He’s frustrated and not able to replicate his delivery. … The ability to repeat his delivery, I’m not going to say it’s not physical. But we owe it to him and to us to find out what he’s feeling and how he’s going about it.”

Ryan gave up four runs and seven hits in the team’s six-run loss at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday. It marked his latest rough outing, too. The All-Star holds a 9.39 ERA and has given up 25 hits over his last three starts, all of which have been losses. He gave up a major league record six home runs in a start against the Cleveland Guardians last month, too.

>It didn’t appear that anything happened specifically during his start on Tuesday. Shelton said that they didn’t believe his injury was arm-related, but instead limited to his lower body. Ryan didn’t have much of an update after the game, either, but did say that he “definitely” didn’t feel capable in his delivery on the mound.

>It’s unclear how long Ryan will be sidelined with his injury. He’s scheduled to start next on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers.

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>Regardless, Ryan’s injury status is a significant blow for a Twins team that just bought at the trade deadline. They acquired four pitchers ahead of Monday’s deadline, including starter Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles.

>The Twins entered Wednesday’s contest with a 56-58 record and have lost three of their last five games. They’re sitting in third in the AL Central race, but are just a game back from the Cleveland Guardians and only four games out of first in the division.

>The AL Central title, something the Twins haven’t won since 2023, is very much still within reach. But pulling that off without Ryan available down the stretch will be significantly harder.