What is wrong with Joe Ryan? That's a question being asked by Twins fans, the Twins manager, and even Joe Ryan himself.
The Twins ace for much of the last year and a half has struggled in his last three starts following the All-Star break where he pitched for the American League.
Ryan gave up 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday night in Kansas City, an 8-2 Twins loss. Against The Royals last week, Ryan gave up 4 runs in 6-innings and July 20, Ryan gave up a shocking 8 runs on 6 home runs over 4-innings in a 13-4 loss to Cleveland.
Those are not typical results for him, and Ryan and his manager, Derek Shelton, know it.
"You can just kind of sense the frustration in his voice a little bit," Shelton said Wednesday morning on the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar. "He's out of sync in his delivery and because of that, he's not able to locate pitches where he wants to. And that's one of the things that makes him so good and efficient."
That frustration came out of Ryan after Tuesday night's start where the Royals quickly put two runs on Ryan in the first, before adding three more runs in the fifth.
"Oh yeah, I mean it's been the last what since post break," Ryan said. "I mean I would even say like some stuff before that. But, yeah, I just - yeah."
Ryan adds they'll get to the bottom of what has felt off for him.
"At times, but yeah, I mean it's still just kind of the same stuff since around like Anaheim and that. So, yeah, just frustrating," he said.
Shelton said the team is behind Ryan and will help him get back to his All-Star self.
"I think in terms of like what we do moving forward, the delivery, we can fine tune that and we can help to get him back in sync with our pitching group," he said. "On my end, it's just, you have a frustrated player, you want to sit and listen to him, and kind of help him. And just have a conversation with him and stay positive because I think we all know that a healthy Joe Ryan, an effective Joe Ryan, is someone that is a really good starter for us, and can help us win baseball games."
The Twins and Royals play game two of their three game set in Kansas City Wednesday night before a three-game series in Milwaukee. Ryan's next appearance is scheduled for Sunday against the Brewers.
Minnesota Twins (56-58, third in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (47-67, fifth in the AL Central)
Kansas City, Missouri; Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. Pregame at 6:00 p.m. on 830 WCCO and the Audacy app (in-market only)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Dean Kremer (1-4, 6.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Royals: Noah Cameron (5-8, 4.59 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 107 strikeouts)
LINE: Royals -118, Twins -101; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins play the Kansas City Royals after Royce Lewis' four-hit game on Tuesday.
Kansas City is 27-27 in home games and 47-67 overall. The Royals have a 25-55 record in games when they have given up a home run.
Minnesota is 26-31 on the road and 56-58 overall. Twins hitters have a collective .318 on-base percentage, the sixth-ranked percentage in the AL.
The teams meet Wednesday for the 12th time this season. The Royals lead the season series 7-4.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jac Caglianone ranks second on the Royals with 38 extra base hits (18 doubles, two triples and 18 home runs). Salvador Perez is 11 for 39 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and four RBIs over the past 10 games.
Kody Clemens has 20 doubles, five triples, 19 home runs and 53 RBIs while hitting .236 for the Twins. Lewis is 13 for 36 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 4-6, .224 batting average, 4.05 ERA, outscored by six runs
Twins: 5-5, .222 batting average, 4.02 ERA, outscored by five runs
INJURIES: Royals: Connor Seabold: 60-Day IL (lat), Luinder Avila: 15-Day IL (forearm), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hand), Vinnie Pasquantino: 10-Day IL (wrist), Beck Way: 15-Day IL (back), Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (flexor), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Twins: Mike Paredes: 60-Day IL (oblique), Cole Sands: 60-Day IL (elbow), Byron Buxton: 10-Day IL (hip), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Mick Abel: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Banda: 60-Day IL (lat), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
