'Resilient' Twins turn to Joe Ryan in effort to take series vs. Astros

The Minnesota Twins were dealt a pair of roster blows before the opener of their three-game series in Houston on Monday, and their collective response to the bad news resonated.

The Twins held on for a 5-4 victory over the Astros for their 11th win in their last 18 games. Minnesota has won four of the prior five series and can clinch another series victory, over Houston, on Tuesday night.

Earlier on Monday, the Twins placed left-handed reliever Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain that will sideline him for months. Banda sustained the injury Sunday in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies.

Minnesota's Byron Buxton was diagnosed with a right hip impingement following an MRI and missed the series opener. Buxton, who is having an All-Star-caliber season with 25 homers, 43 RBIs and a .268 batting average, will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

Even in the absence of Banda and Buxton, the Twins were undaunted on Monday.

"This group is resilient," Twins manager Derek Shelton said. "This is a resilient group, and anything that gets thrown at them, they continue to go.

"Our guys just keep going."

Right-hander Joe Ryan (5-4, 3.18 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Twins on Tuesday.

In his previous start against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Wednesday, Ryan was saddled with a 4-3 loss after allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts over six innings.

He fell to 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA over his last seven starts with 56 strikeouts against just five walks. His strikeout total during that span is second in the majors to Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (58).

Ryan is 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight career starts against the Astros, including an 0-2 mark with a 6.75 ERA across three starts in Houston. Ryan earned a 4-1 win over Houston on May 20 after allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts over six innings.

Right-hander Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.48 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Tuesday.

Burrows recorded his fourth quality start this season last Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays but did not factor into the decision of a 3-1 win. He allowed one run on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings.

Burrows is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in five appearances (four starts) this month. He is 0-2 with a 12.27 ERA in two career starts against the Twins. In his previous appearance against Minnesota on May 20, he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts over six innings in a 4-1 road loss.

The Astros reinstated infielder Nick Allen from the 10-day IL on Monday, and the timing proved fortuitous. Allen had been sidelined since June 8 with a right hamstring strain, and his return unexpectedly coincided with the loss of shortstop Jeremy Pena, who was placed on the 10-day IL later on Monday with a left calf strain.

"Versatility, obviously," Astros manager Joe Espada said of Allen. "His defense, incredible value. That's good to have him back."

--Field Level Media