Without Joe Ryan, Who Actually Leads the Twins' Rotation Now?

It is quite the loss for the Twins, and at easily one of the worst times that it could have happened.

Twins pitcher Joe Ryan (41) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It was only about 10 days ago that the Minnesota Twins found themselves slotted in the bottom wild card spot and ready to go to war in order to make it to October baseball, which is why the front office decided to become buyers at the trade deadline.

The Twins went after a couple of relievers, including the high-leverage arm of Jeff Hoffman in the final hour of the deadline, as well as another starter the days prior, as Dean Kremer is now a part of the organization.

But things haven't been going their way as of late, with the team coming off three consecutive series losses and now sitting a pair of games under .500. It got even worse when Joe Ryan and Zebby Matthews both hit the injured list.

Dean Kremer was AWESOME tonight 🔥

7 IP | 1 H | 1 R | 1 BB | 7 K

He's only allowed 2 ER in his first two starts as a Twin! pic.twitter.com/C3USsbZyg3

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 11, 2026

Ryan is dealing with a left glute strain, while Matthews is fighting a blister, which is detrimental for a pitcher. That being said, others need to step up, and it will take more than one to fill the roles that are being left open, specifically Ryan.

Despite Kremer not having the best season with the Baltimore Orioles, he has been phenomenal since joining his new team, and then there is Taj Bradley, who has led this rotation all year, and he has to continue to do so if there is any hope of Minnesota making the playoffs.

Kremer Since the Trade Deadline

Twins starting pitcher Dean Kremer (13) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Looking at Kremer's 7.56 ERA over his last seven games, it is unfathomable to believe that he really could be the difference maker for Minnesota's season, but it isn't how a player starts, but how they finish, and he has been excellent since putting on a Twins uniform.

Kremer has made two starts since joining the organization, and he started strong as he went five innings of one-run baseball, but was even better in his latest outing, where he went seven innings for the first time in his career against his former team, allowing a single run.

The Twins' stretch of games is not going to get any easier in the coming weeks as they are currently in the midst of a series with the Baltimore Orioles, who, despite selling out at the deadline, are still somewhat in the hunt for a wild card spot.

Then, they have to face the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves- two of the hottest offenses in baseball. The pitching has to be on because if it isn't their season could quickly be unsalvageable.

With Bradley having thrown last Saturday and Kremer on Monday, it seems likely they will be seen in the Phillies' series, and both of those games need to be Ws for the Twins.