The Minnesota Twins’ playoff aspirations now hinge on the prognosis of a right elbow. Joe Ryan, their most durable starter this season, was pulled from Sunday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays after just nine pitches due to right elbow soreness, the team confirmed. Ryan had carried a 3.60 ERA across 22 starts and was on pace for a career-high innings total, making his health a central variable in the American League Central race. The sudden exit leaves the rotation thin behind Pablo López and Bailey Ober, with no immediate timeline for Ryan’s return. The Twins must now weigh whether to seek external pitching before the trade deadline or rely on internal depth while awaiting an MRI’s verdict.