Joe Ryan

Ryan let up a run on a pair of hits in the first inning. He bounced back in the second frame, striking out the side. He'd go on to complete five innings of one-run ball on 81 pitches, 55 for strikes. He struck out five while generating seven whiffs. The 28-year-old right-hander's velocity was sitting at 93 mph, still down a tick from last season but notably higher than his spring training readings and perhaps a good sign going forward. Ryan is lined up for a start against the Astros in Minnesota on Thursday.

No Statcast today or radar gun readings on TV, so we're not sure if Ryan's velocity bounced back from last time out, when he was down 2.5-3 mph form 2024. He was effective in allowing just three singles and striking out four. If his arm is sound, he could be one of the AL's best pitchers this season.

Ryan allowed a pair of homers with his velocity down 2.5-3 mph from last year. Hopefully, it's a dead-arm phase for him. Ryan is returning from a shoulder strain that ended his 2024 season, but in his spring debut 11 days ago, his velocity was down 1-1.5 mph from last year, which seemed just fine. We'll definitely be curious to see what he looks like next time out.

The encouraging development from a fantasy standpoint here is that Ryan piled up five strikeouts during Wednesday's Grapefruit League nightcap and has looked healthy this spring in his return from last August's teres major strain in his right shoulder. The 28-year-old is a top-30 range starting pitcher from a fantasy perspective in drafts this spring.

Casas took Twins starter Joe Ryan deep in the opening frame for his first round-tripper of the spring. The 25-year-old former top prospect was derailed last season by a rib injury, which cost him nearly four months. The talent is undeniable and it's not a stretch to forecast a leap into the 30-homer range, if he stays mostly healthy. The lingering durability concerns push him a bit lower into the top 10-12 range at first base from a fantasy standpoint in drafts this spring.