Twins hopeful Ryan's injury is not 'large-scale issue'

CHICAGO -- Joe Ryan has been a steady and reliable presence in the Twins’ starting rotation all season, and a key reason Minnesota is in the thick of the AL Central race.

So, it was alarming when he signaled toward the Twins’ dugout in the third inning on Wednesday, moments before he exited his start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Minnesota, which dropped its rubber match against Chicago, 8-2, later announced Ryan’s day ended prematurely due to right triceps tightness.

“It doesn’t seem like some type of large-scale issue, but he wasn’t going to be able to continue pitching in the game,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “So, let’s give him a couple of days and see what he looks like, what he feels like, what he’s capable of, and we’ll know a lot more as the week goes on.

“It’s tough, it’s unfortunate, it’s not what we want to see. But it’s not something that we can’t work around. We still have plenty of season left, and he’s going to have plenty of time to heal up.”

After surrendering a one-out solo homer to Michael Busch in the first, Ryan retired five consecutive Cubs hitters. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the third inning, and Ryan threw him an 0-2 splitter that sailed outside. Ryan immediately motioned toward Minnesota’s dugout, and after a short conversation with Baldelli and head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, he walked off the mound. His day was over.

Ryan was not available for comment after the game, and it is too early to know the exact specifics of what he’s dealing with. But it would be understandable if the triceps issue leads to him missing at least some time.

“We don’t really know enough right now to say anything,” Baldelli said. “He’s going to probably miss a little time here, in one form or another, but we’re going to have to wait and see. He’s going to have plenty of time to come back and pitch some games for us this year.”

Reliever Trevor Richards was called upon in relief of Ryan and was faced with the unique task of warming up on the field. He recorded just two outs while being charged with three runs. Richards issued five walks and threw two wild pitches.

“I felt fine,” Richards said. “If you go back and look at it, it’s not like I was spraying the ball all over the place. I was missing in the same spot. If the plate was a quarter-of-an-inch bigger, they are all strikes. I mean, it’s just one of those days. I don’t know if it was visually or what, it was just off. It happens.”

Ryan leads the Twins with 13 quality starts in 23 outings, and he has a 3.60 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 135 innings. The Twins have already been playing without several key contributors, including center fielder Byron Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa.

Buxton, who is dealing with lower back tightness, was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game. Correa is on the 10-day IL with right plantar fasciitis. Buxton, Correa and Royce Lewis, three of Minnesota’s most important hitters, have only been in the starting lineup together 17 times this season. Baldelli was asked pregame about the potential frustrations that could stem from not being able to get to full strength for an extended period.

“We don’t want to complain because complaining takes us in the wrong direction,” Baldelli said. “I would love to have all those guys out there, but we have today who we have today. … That’s all that we can worry about. We just worry about who can take the field, who can help us win. We’ll have those guys out there. We’ll see Carlos back soon, and hopefully everyone else keeps themselves in a good, healthy place, and we can add.

“But it’s a six-month season. We can always sit here and say what if. I don’t like dealing with what-ifs. Only when we have to, we have to deal with those things. I don’t let that frustration get to me.”

After dropping the three-game set to the Cubs, the Twins will turn their attention to an important homestand. They will host the AL Central-leading Guardians (four games) and Royals (three) beginning with Friday’s doubleheader vs. Cleveland. Minnesota is only 3 1/2 games back of first place.

“No one is going to deny it's an important week for the standings,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “I also don't think anyone is going to put more than they need to on themselves to play better. We've been good about maintaining a pretty level head whoever we're facing.”