Jordan Cooper said Joe Ryan is his preferred salary-saving pivot off Hunter Brown. Swapping Ryan for Brown frees $1,300 on DraftKings, which SimLabs shows lets you jam an Astros or Yankees stack while still producing high top-100 lineup ratings. Cooper expects Carlos Rodon to be the chalk, followed by Tyler McGill and Brown, leaving Ryan as the fourth-most-owned arm in the mid-teens—offering leverage without sacrificing ceiling. Ryan sits in Cooper’s six-pitcher pool and, in Cooper’s words, gives you "the same strikeout upside for cheaper" while avoiding the field’s construction patterns.

Kenny G’s favorite angle at the Trop is under 8.5. Joe Ryan (4-2, 2.68 ERA) has surrendered only two earned runs across four of his last five outings and is backed by baseball’s fourth-best bullpen. Opposite him, 24-year-old Taj Bradley has been inconsistent (4-3, 4.61 ERA) but just limited Houston to two runs over six frames and hands off to a Rays relief unit carrying a 3.30 ERA. Neither lineup profiles as explosive: Minnesota sits 21st in runs, 20th in batting average, while Tampa is 20th in runs and 22nd in OBP despite a recent six-game win streak. Both clubs have been cash machines for totals bettors—Twins road games are 15-9-3 to the under, Rays home games a staggering 19-3-3 to the under. Kenny believes the number should be closer to 7.5 given the pitching matchup, park factors and each team’s under trends, so grabbing 8.5 is “pretty good value.” He leans slightly to the Twins’ moneyline at –120 because of Ryan’s current form but the under is his primary wager.

Just A Bet Outside advised targeting Joe Ryan’s strikeout over when he visits Tampa Bay. The Rays have the seventh-highest K-rate versus righties in the past three weeks (22.9%). Ryan sits on 67 strikeouts in 57 innings, logged 7-plus Ks in four of his last five outings, and owns a massive 38.5% K-rate against right-handed hitters. Even with a modest dip on the road (27.3%), the matchup says seven or more punch-outs are very attainable.

Lindquist leaned toward Joe Ryan staying UNDER 17.5 outs (essentially failing to complete six innings) even at even money. Although Ryan has cruised in his last few starts, Lindquist called the matchup in Milwaukee a classic sell-high. Ryan is still surrendering a 44 % hard-hit rate and a 23-degree average launch angle—numbers that invite big flies if the American Family Field roof is open in warmer summer weather. With the Twins running thin defensively—Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa are both sidelined—Lindquist expects more pitches per plate appearance and an earlier bullpen call from Rocco Baldelli, who has pulled Ryan before the sixth in three of seven starts this season. He would take plus money but is comfortable down to –105 if roof reports confirm hitter-friendly conditions.

Michael Savio backed the Twins moneyline because Joe Ryan is on a tear—3-2 record with a 2.74 ERA and microscopic 0.83 WHIP on the year, but more importantly a 0.95 ERA and 0.63 WHIP across his last three starts. Savio noted Milwaukee’s offense is circling the drain, ranking sixth-worst in OPS (.665) and batting just .209 over the past week while being shut out twice in their previous series. On the other side, Chad Patrick’s May collapse (3.19 season ERA but ballooning after a 1.82 April) gives Minnesota a clear pitching edge. With the Twins’ bats trending up and Ryan in ace form, Savio expects another low-scoring night for the Brewers and advised laying ‑115 on the Twins ML.

Lonte Smith said the entire Ryan-Webb matchup screams low scoring. Ryan has rattled off five consecutive quality starts with a sub-2.00 ERA and .247 xwOBA, yet owns an 0-3 record because Minnesota has scored two runs or fewer in three of those games. Logan Webb’s home/road split (2.57 ERA at Oracle, 4.23 on the road) still carries a 60% ground-ball rate that limits damage, and San Francisco ranks just 25th in road wRC+. Smith added that both bullpens are fresh after a mutual off-day, making late explosions unlikely. He played First-5 Under 4.5 at –120 and doubled down on the full-game Under 8, projecting no more than six total runs.

Kingpin recommended betting Joe Ryan over 6.5 strikeouts. Ryan owns a 0.90 WHIP and a 47:5 K:BB through 40⅔ innings (better than 11 K/9). He now faces an Orioles lineup logging 299 strikeouts in 34 games (nearly 9 per game) while hitting just .223 and scoring 3.8 runs a night. Baltimore’s free-swinging profile plus Ryan’s 30% strikeout rate make seven punch-outs a realistic baseline, especially with Target Field weather projected in the low-60s and light wind in. Kingpin noted Ryan has not allowed more than one earned run in any road start this year, which secures the leash needed to work deep enough for the prop to cash.

Just A Bet Outside highlighted Joe Ryan’s strikeout prop as a spot to attack. Baltimore owns the third-highest K-rate against right-handers over the last three weeks (25.6 %). Ryan has punched out 47 batters in 40 innings and historically flourishes at Target Field, posting a 37.9 % strikeout rate at home versus 23.9 % on the road. He also carries a 37 % K-rate specifically against right-handed hitters, which makes up the heart of the Orioles lineup. The tout projected 7–9 strikeouts and recommended the over on any line set at 6.5 or lower for betting or DFS purposes.

Razzle labeled Joe Ryan a boom-bust tourney play. Ryan carries a 6.5 strikeout prop juiced to the over—one of the slate’s top three—and is +165 for a win despite a 9.0 game total. Boston provides punch-outs (11-K and 8-K outings in two of Ryan’s last three). Power risk exists versus hot right-handed bats, but Razzle is willing to embrace that variance for the 30-DKP ceiling Ryan has already flashed this season.

Polzin noted PrizePicks set Joe Ryan’s pitching fantasy score at 25.5 while both Underdog and major books sit 27–27.5. Even after adjusting for the Yankees’ potent lineup and an 8.5 run total, projections give Ryan a 52.3% chance to clear the higher market number thanks to his 30-point effort against New York earlier this season and back-to-back 8-strikeout outings. With Minnesota only +1.2 on the moneyline, Ryan retains win and quality-start equity, making the OVER a slight but actionable edge.

Just A Bet Outside said Joe Ryan’s strikeout over looks dicey at Fenway. He pointed out that Ryan’s K-rate plummets from 37.9% at home to just 20.6% on the road and that the right-hander whiffs only 16.7% of left-handed hitters compared to 37.5% of righties. The Red Sox have the 6th-highest K-rate vs righties over the past three weeks (23.3%), but Steven argued that stat is inflated by Boston’s right-handed bats; their projected lineup could load up on lefties to exploit Ryan’s split. Coming off an 11-K gem against the Angels— MLB’s most strikeout-prone team— the market may overreact with a lofty K line, creating value on the under or a stay-away. He advised bettors to pass or take the under unless books hang a modest number.

Romanelli is taking Minnesota as short road favorites behind Joe Ryan, who owns a 27:3 K:BB over his last 20 innings and has produced quality starts in both of his career appearances against Boston. Ryan’s riding a career-best whiff rate and should benefit from Fenway’s marine layer in a cool May night. Conversely, Walker Buehler has struck out only three of the last 24 batters he’s faced and was barreled up seven times by Cleveland. Romanelli likes the Twins’ recent approach—cutting strikeouts and ranking top-10 in hard-hit rate over the last week—and trusts their fourth-ranked bullpen to finish the job. He’s on Minnesota’s money line.

Chris Welsh advised fantasy managers in redraft leagues to drop the newly injured Tyler Glasnow and immediately scoop up Joe Ryan if the Twin right-hander is still on waivers. Ryan owns a low-3s ERA, elite walk suppression, and continues to generate weak contact despite a small velocity dip. Given Glasnow’s latest shoulder flare-up and his endless injury history, Welsh believes Ryan is a vastly safer, week-to-week producer and called the swap "an easy move right now" wherever Ryan is available.

Chris Morgan recommended Joe Ryan as a value SP2 at $8,500. Although Ryan carries a 4.00 ERA, Morgan pointed to his elite 9.33 K/BB ratio and 27% strikeout rate as proof the skills remain intact. The Angels come to Target Field with a bottom-10 offense and a sub-.300 team OBP, similar to last year’s bottom-five finish. Morgan expects Ryan’s fly-ball profile to play well in cool Minneapolis weather and projects six innings with 7-9 strikeouts, making him a tournament pivot off the expensive aces.

Cash Out Sports Picks highlighted the Minnesota Twins as a value play on the money line against the Mets, despite a slow 5-11 start. The analysis praised Twins pitcher Joe Ryan, who has allowed one earned run or fewer in two of his three starts this year. On the other hand, Mets starter Clay Holmes has experienced control issues, allowing frequent baserunners early in the season. While Minnesota's offense has shown inconsistency, their pitching staff has been solid with a 3.85 ERA and a .239 batting average against. The Mets offense has performed well, but Cash Out Sports Picks believes Ryan's strong form and Holmes' vulnerabilities create betting value for Minnesota on the money line.

Just A Bet Outside praised Joe Ryan for splendid command, as evidenced by an outstanding 0% walk rate through his first few starts. Ryan pitched impressively versus weaker opponents (Royals and Cardinals), allowing just one run and seven hits across 12 innings, although stumbles against stronger lineups were noted. His exceptional control provides strong upside and stability in fantasy and betting contexts today.

Joe Pisapia expressed concern regarding Joe Ryan after he allowed back-to-back home runs and four runs across five innings of work. Given his susceptibility to hard-hit balls and his struggles to neutralize hitters recently, fantasy players should be cautious deploying Ryan, especially when facing powerful lineups or hitting-friendly venues until he demonstrates renewed effectiveness.

Zach Thompson tabbed Joe Ryan as his top pitching choice for the MLB DFS slate on April 3rd, citing particularly strong home performances over his career at Target Field, where Ryan posts a K/9 rate of 10.5, notably higher than his road strikeout rate. Ryan also exhibited encouraging form with a strong first start against the Cardinals, pitching five innings with five strikeouts, allowing only one run. Ryan's matchup against an Astros team that currently ranks among the league leaders in strikeout rate (54 Ks in six games) offers substantial upside, especially in a cold afternoon game in Minneapolis. Despite some inconsistency against Houston last season (eight earned runs over two starts), Thompson expects Ryan's strikeout skills to shine in this spot.

Derek Carty recommends betting the over on Joe Ryan's 5.5 strikeout total (-160 odds) as one of the day's high-value pitcher prop bets. The projection assigns Ryan a 69% chance of exceeding this number, providing +$18.18 in expected value. Ryan benefits significantly from a dominating platoon advantage against a Houston Astros lineup projected to feature eight right-handed hitters, positioning him nicely to surpass this strikeout projection.

Michael Savio highlighted Twins pitcher Joe Ryan after an impressive first start in 2025, allowing only one run across five innings to St. Louis. Ryan is coming off a tremendous 2024 campaign where he recorded a standout 0.99 WHIP. Although the Astros have historically had some success against Ryan, they now possess their weakest lineup in several seasons, greatly enhancing Ryan's betting value tonight. As a result, Savio anticipates another strong showing from Ryan, leading to a low-scoring affair favoring the under bet.

Dylan Rockford strongly prefers backing the Twins first-five innings specifically due to pitcher Joe Ryan, who looked excellent in his initial outing despite minimal run support. He argues that facing the slumping Astros lineup—offensively weak and losers of their past games—is an optimal setup for Ryan to dominate early. With clear concerns over both team's shaky bullpens, Rockford feels avoiding late-game unpredictability and centering bets around Minnesota's edge in starting pitching through the first five innings offers the best betting angle.

Dan Marcus pinpointed Joe Ryan as the strongest pitching option in DraftKings Saturday contests, highlighting his impressive 27.3% strikeout rate from the previous season—the highest of any available pitcher on the slate. Marcus expressed confidence in Ryan's matchup, noting the game against the Cardinals is favorable and unlikely to pose major issues for Ryan, making him an ideal anchor in DFS lineups at a reasonable $8,800 price.