MINNEAPOLIS — Oh, so that's why Joe Ryan is in the Twins' starting rotation and Michael Pineda isn't.
It was never an either/or decision, of course, and Ryan and Pineda both had jobs in the rotation last September. But the rookie's potential made the Twins' decision to allow the veteran to leave as a free agent easier — and on Wednesday, Ryan made it obvious.
Ryan shut out Detroit on one measly hit over seven innings and never allowed any Tiger to reach second base. He lowered his ERA to 1.17 this season, pitching the Twins to their sixth consecutive victory by beating the Tigers 5-0. It was the Twins' third shutout of the season, and after Danny Coulombe surrendered a ninth-inning double, their second two-hit shutout.
