Joe Ryan (glute) throws on flat ground

The option was just something Ryan and the Twins did in January in order to avoid arbitration; Ryan gets a $100,000 buyout on top of his $6.1 million salary from last season, and now he’ll be arbitration eligible again. Coming off a season in which he had a 3.79 ERA in 27 starts, he’s probably looking at a raise to $9 million-$10 million in his final season before free agency.

Ryan let up two runs by the time he faced four hitters, but held tight from that point on. In fact, only three Rangers reached base against him after the first inning. He leaned into his knuckle-curve a bit more than usual and while he hung a handful, it also forced five swings-and-misses. A stint on the injured list played a part, but this was Ryan’s first win since July 5th and he closed the season with a 3.79 ERA, 159 strikeouts, and 31 walks over 144 2/3 innings pitched.

Ryan departed with a 4-2 lead that wound up being blown. With any luck at all, it would have been a better night. He gave up seven hits but just three hard-hit balls, and the 376-foot homer he allowed to Jose Siri was only a home run in three of 30 ballparks. Ryan is due to face the Rangers in his final start.

Ryan gave up a pair of homers and struck out just one in his second start back from the injured list. He also lost the previous one, and he’s now 6-10 with a 3.84 ERA overall. One wonders if he might be looking at a shutdown with the Twins all but out of the playoff hunt. He’s lined up to face the Angels next weekend.

Ryan served up a solo homer to Detroit’s rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle in the opening frame, along with a pair of runs in the second inning. However, he managed to settle in shortly afterwards, needing just 66 pitches (46 strikes) to navigate four frames in his return from the injured list. He looked fine from a velocity standpoint, averaging 94 mph on his four-seam fastball, while coaxing 12 swinging strikes in the abbreviated outing. He’s probably going to be on a pitch count again when he faces the Guardians on Sunday, but he still offers enough strikeout upside to be a worthwhile fantasy option in that matchup.

Ryan has been on the injured list for about a month, but the Twins are watching their playoff hopes slip away, so they will bring their ace back after one 42-pitch rehab start. In that start, Ryan’s velocity was down a couple of ticks, averaging just 91 mph on his four-seam fastball, but it’s also unlikely he was really letting it fly. He should be limited to about 60 pitches in this game, so we’d still probably sit him on fantasy benches, but you can roll the dice if you’re hoping for a two-start week.

The expectation now is that the 30-year-old hurler will be cleared to rejoin the Twins’ rotation this week. Ryan threw just 42 pitches in a minor league rehab game at Triple-A St. Paul this week, so he may have a pitch count limitation in his first start back, but it sure sounds like his next start will be with the Twins.

Ryan, who threw 42 pitches during a minor league rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul earlier this week, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. MLB.com’s Matthew Leach notes that Minnesota’s pitchers typically throw a bullpen session two days before their next start and Monday is an off-day in the minors. He’s been out with a glute strain since early August and would likely be on a strict pitch count in his return. There should be a definitive update on Ryan’s next steps at some point this weekend, but it certainly sounds like he could get the ball on Monday at Comerica Park. The club hasn’t announced their rotation plans for the series. Connor Prielipp would be in line to start if Ryan doesn’t come off the shelf.

Ryan’s velocity was down a couple ticks as he averaged just 91 mph on his four-seam fastball during the 42-pitch outing. He gave up a solo homer, which represented the lone baserunner against him across three frames. The 30-year-old Twins ace is working his way back from a glute strain and could potentially make his next start in the big leagues with the club fighting for a playoff spot. It wouldn’t be surprising if he made one additional rehab start to continue building up his pitch count and stamina before returning to Minnesota’s rotation.

Twins manager Derek Shelton said the plan is for Ryan to throw roughly 50 pitches over three innings. The 30-year-old upper-echelon fantasy starter figures to rejoin Minnesota’s rotation next week, assuming he’s feeling ready from a physical standpoint. He hit the injured list with a glute strain back in early August. There should be a definitive update on his return timeline coming out of Tuesday’s tune-up outing.