Joe Ryan Presents Test for Cam Schlittler in Game 3

Joe Ryan may be the best starting pitcher in the American League. He presents a challenge for the young Cam Schlittler as the Yankees look to sweep the Twins in the wake of Giancarlo Stanton’s 4-hit outburst last night. Joe Ryan is third in pitcher wins above replacement at 4.5.

Joe Ryan is also among the league leaders in strikeouts with 146. Schlittler has pitched well in his brief career, but Joe Ryan had the potential to stifle Yankee hitting and strike out at least 10. Schlittler will have to pitch well to keep the free-swinging Yankees in the game. Do you think the Yankees will sweep the Twins?

Joe Ryan Against Cam Schlittler

Joe Ryan has dominant statistics. He has compiled these statistics for a bad team, so they are impressive. It was rumored that Joe Ryan was going to be traded by the Twins. He is a great pitcher and could help a contender. Joe Ryan is 11-5. The fact that he has won 11 is impressive. The Twins have not won that many games this season. Joe Ryan has only a 2.79 earned run average and an impressive 0.92 WHIP. His 146 strikeouts will be a problem for the free-swinging Yankees.

Young phenom Schlitler has pitched well for the Yankees. He has impressed with his near 100 MPH fastball. He has a real test tonight, and must pitch the game of his young career against the dangerous and skilled Joe Ryan. Schlittler is only 1-2 with a 4.38 earned run average, but he has pitched better than his record. Schlittler does have the annoying tendency to give up a long home run in the first inning. He cannot do that tonight, but he probably will. Schlittler, a power pitcher, has 24 strikeouts in only 24 innings pitched.

Yankees Lineup

There is no reason to mess with success. The Yankees need the bats of both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in their batting order. Plus, Stanton has been fine in right field. So, if Judge still needs to be the designated hitter, he can be. Meanwhile, Ben Rice looks like he has supplanted Austin Wells as the Yankees’ lead catcher. Rice has worked hard on his defense at catcher and is killing the baseball at the plate. He is among the leaders in hard-hit balls, and Wells is among the worst hitters in baseball. His nerve problem must be bothering him when he hits.

Can Joe Ryan do it?

There is an argument to be made that the Minnesota Twins have given up on the season. This would be understandable given the nine trades the Twins made at the trade deadline. It is reasonable to ask, given that, whether Joe Ryan can win tonight. First, he is a good pitcher. Second, it is important to remember that the youngsters who now populate the Twins lineup are trying to prove something and therefore will likely play well.

Conclusion

The Yankees, who look to sweep this series against the hapless Minnesota Twins, are off tomorrow before heading to St. Louis to take on the nearly as hapless Cardinals on Friday. Before they do, they get a treat today. Minnesota’s starting pitcher Joe Ryan is one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Twins should have traded him, too. Schlitter will need to have the best start of his young career to keep the Yankees in this game.