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The Tigers acquired Ryan, Zyhir Hope and Brady Smith from the Dodgers on Saturday in exchange for Tarik Skubal, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Tigers are acquiring a significant prospect haul in Ryan, Hope and Smith in order to send their southpaw ace to the two-time defending World Series champions. Ryan made his major-league debut for the Dodgers in 2024 but didn't pitch at all in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He's spent the entire 2026 campaign in Triple-A, where he's posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 36.1 innings in between multiple IL stints due to hamstring issues. The right-hander last pitched June 17, and while there's no clear date for his return, he could get plugged right into Detroit's big-league rotation once he's activated.
Dodgers' River Ryan: Shelved due to hamstring strain
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The Dodgers placed Ryan on Triple-A Oklahoma City's 7-day injured list Friday due to a hamstring strain, Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic report.
According to Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes, Ryan suffered the hamstring injury during his last Triple-A start, when he gave up eight runs on 10 hits over 4.1 innings. Gomes described the issue as "not anything overly serious" and said Ryan will be able to keep throwing, but not off a mound. It's the second time the right-handed hurler has been placed on the minor-league IL due to a hamstring injury this season, as he missed over a month of action from mid-April to mid-May. When he's been healthy, Ryan has been quite good -- though he has a 4.46 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, that's come with a promising 43:8 K:BB over 36.1 innings spanning eight starts.
Dodgers' River Ryan: Another strong start at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ryan fired six scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City against Sugar Land on Thursday, striking out eight and giving up four hits and no walks.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in mid-May that there was a "slim chance" of the 27-year-old joining the big-league rotation in place of Blake Snell (elbow), and Ryan has remained with Oklahoma City for the past three turns through the rotation. The right-hander has been dominant through five Triple-A starts this year with a 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 29:3 K:BB across 22 innings. After giving up just three earned runs across four outings in his first taste of the big leagues last year, it's likely only a matter of time before Ryan gets another look in 2026.
Dodgers' River Ryan: 'Slim' chance to join LAD rotation
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that there is a "slim possibility" Ryan will enter the team's big-league rotation in place of Blake Snell (elbow), Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Snell landed on the 15-day injured list Friday and could be looking at an extended absence if he needs surgery. With Tyler Glasnow (back) also on the IL, Los Angeles could need to find a fill-in starter, though Harris notes the team is set with five healthy starters ahead of next Thursday's off day. Ryan doesn't seem likely to join the MLB rotation given Roberts' comments, but the skipper didn't entirely rule out the possibility. Ryan is coming back from an injury of his own -- a hamstring issue that cost him nearly a month -- but he returned to action Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City and tossed four innings, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters. He tossed 53 pitches in the outing, so the right-hander presumably isn't fully ramped up following his absence. Ultimately, the Dodgers may not need to dig into their minor-league depth for a sixth starter if Glasnow returns in time for the team's next stretch of six consecutive games, which will not begin until May 29 versus Philadelphia.
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Dodgers' River Ryan: Slated to return Friday
Rotowire
Ryan (hamstring) is scheduled to make his next start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Ryan has been shelved on Oklahoma City's 7-day injured list since April 17 due to a hamstring injury, but the 27-year-old right-hander has recovered enough to return to the mound for Friday's Triple-A contest. In two starts prior to his injury, Ryan allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters across seven innings.
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Dodgers' River Ryan: Nursing hamstring issue at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ryan was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 17 due to a hamstring injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The injury is considered minor, though it's not clear when exactly Ryan might be ready to rejoin the Oklahoma City rotation. Following a strong Cactus League showing, Ryan has posted a 5.14 ERA and 10:2 K:BB over seven frames in his first two starts with OKC this season. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he's a good bet to help the Dodgers at some point this season, either in a rotation or bullpen capacity.
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Dodgers' River Ryan: Doesn't make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Dodgers optioned Ryan to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Ryan spent the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and entered spring training with an outside shot at making the Dodgers' Opening Day roster. He appeared in four Cactus League games for the Dodgers and posted a 1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB across 9.2 innings. It was a strong camp for Ryan, but even with Blake Snell (shoulder) expected to start the season on the 15-day injured list, the Dodgers are being mindful of the former's workload and will ease him back in the minors first, per Jack Harris of the California Post. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Ryan in some major-league games in 2026.
Dodgers' River Ryan: Unlikely to break camp with LA
Rotowire
Ryan has had a strong spring but is expected to begin the season in the minors, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Ryan's most recent spring outing was a four-inning start against Texas on Sunday, during which he allowed just one run and struck out five batters. The right-hander has posted an impressive 1.86 ERA with a 12:4 K:BB over 9.2 frames spanning four appearances this spring, and with Blake Snell (shoulder) slated to open the season on the IL, there had been some thought that Ryan could be a candidate for the open rotation spot. However, Chen surmises that Ryan will almost certainly begin the campaign in the minors due to an early schedule that includes three days off over the first 15 days of the season (which should reduce the need for a sixth starter) and the presence of Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski, both of whom have more experience as swingmen. It's also worth noting that Ryan missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, so while there's a good chance he'll get an opportunity with the big club at some point during the campaign, the Dodgers are likely to manage his workload carefully.
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