CHICAGO – River Ryan talked last week about the opportunity that the Tarik Skubal trade has given him. That opportunity is now. The Tigers will recall the right-hander from Triple-A Toledo to make his Tigers debut on Monday night, starting in the series opener against the Nationals at Comerica Park.
Ryan’s start will begin a final homestand full of looks to the future and likely farewells. Justin Verlander is tentatively lined up to return from the injured list and start on Saturday against the Pirates, making the final appearance of his 21-year Major League career, barring setbacks. Jack Flaherty, out since mid-July with a right flexor strain, is also expected to pitch next weekend, potentially his final Tigers appearance before heading into free agency.
Monday won’t be Ryan’s MLB debut; he made four starts for the Dodgers in 2024. But it’ll be his first Major League appearance since Aug. 10, 2024. He missed all of last year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, then had a pair of stints on the Triple-A injured list this summer with hamstring injuries. That time off partly explains how Ryan still qualifies for prospect status at age 28.
Ryan has made two abbreviated starts for Toledo, including 2 2/3 innings on Tuesday. He had been scheduled to start for the Mud Hens in their season finale on Sunday, but the Tigers summoned him to Detroit to piggyback with Keider Montero, who has already reached a career high in innings, on Monday instead.
Ryan was on the injured list with a hamstring strain when the Tigers acquired him from the Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal trade along with outfield prospect Zyhir Hope and fellow pitching prospect Brady Smith. Given the Dodgers’ pitching depth, Ryan saw it as a potential boon for his career.
“I was on a team that had six, seven starters,” Ryan told MLB.com after his start on Tuesday. “Regardless of how I did out there, I don’t think it was going to be in the cards for me as far as being a huge impact at the big league level this year with the Dodgers. Those guys have gone out there and done well, so I was kind of stuck in Triple-A, just kind of discouraged. Kind of didn’t matter if I went out there and threw 100 pitches and did amazing or not.
“I genuinely think that this trade to the Tigers is going to be really good for my career. I think it’s going to be plenty more opportunity.”
Ryan has a Major League arsenal, from an upper-90s fastball with high spin to a tight low-90s slider, buckling curveball and developing changeup. His health has been his biggest question and his biggest priority in his outings with Toledo this month.
“He’s good, and he’s demonstrating that,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “The question was really how much we could build him up and get his health in order, and both of those things I think we’ve accomplished. So the next test for him is to come and hopefully get a couple of outings over the course of the week, albeit shorter than a normal start. …
“We want to get him around our team, because we expect him to be a big part of what we’re doing moving forward. He’s really talented, and he’s been in the big leagues before, so it’s not like a debut. But it will feel like that given he’s brand new to the organization.”