Misryoum previews Sunday as Minnesota leans on Joe Ryan to cool Toronto’s bats after a rough bullpen inning.
Joe Ryan returns to the spotlight with one clear mission: help the Minnesota Twins slow a Toronto Blue Jays lineup that has already shown it can swing freely when the game gets away.
On Saturday. Toronto capitalized on Minnesota bullpen trouble with a big eighth inning that turned an ordinary contest into a rout.. The Twins. trying to split a four-game set in Minneapolis. now look for a more controlled performance from the right-hander who previously made an immediate impression against the Blue Jays this season.
Ryan’s earlier outing featured tight command and limited damage. giving Minnesota a strong foundation in the middle of the series.. Sunday’s start carries extra weight because the Twins’ relief corps has struggled with consistency. a problem that becomes magnified the moment a starter’s pitch count rises or a rally begins.
In this context, the matchup is less about who can win one inning and more about who can survive the momentum swings that can quickly decide a series.
Meanwhile, Toronto is not walking in on a perfect night either, but the Jays are preparing with confidence.. The team is scheduled to send out Trey Yesavage. a rookie right-hander making just his second start after beginning the season on the injured list.. Minnesota’s offense will need to find ways to work counts and avoid chasing mistakes early. especially if the Twins hope to spare their bullpen.
For Minnesota, bullpen health has also been a storyline. After another difficult late inning Saturday, the Twins placed one of their higher-leverage relievers on the injured list with a forearm strain, leaving more pressure on the group that has already been tested this series.
There is also a separate layer to Toronto’s preparation: the Blue Jays had an early concern involving George Springer after he was hit by a pitch, but updates indicated his condition was not showing serious damage. That means Toronto can plan with the expectation of keeping its lineup rhythm intact.
Still, the central question for Sunday is straightforward. Can the Twins keep the game from turning into a bullpen showcase, and can they give their starter enough breathing room to repeat the kind of control Ryan displayed against Toronto earlier?
For Misryoum readers, this is the kind of series swing that matters because one clean inning, or one chaotic one, can reshape how both teams think about the rest of their schedule.