Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan showed why he's one of baseball's best pitchers on Thursday, but he doesn't have the supporting cast he deserves.

The 29-year-old threw 5.1 shutout innings in Minnesota's 2-1 Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles, allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts and two walks over 85 pitches. The Orioles broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, and the Twins' lone run came on second baseman Luke Keaschall's sacrifice fly in the eighth.

This is a familiar script for the Twins. They finished 23rd in MLB with 678 runs scored last season, while Ryan was ninth with a 1.04 WHIP, 15th with 194 strikeouts, and 18th with a 3.42 ERA over 31 outings (30 starts). The right-hander also earned his first All-Star nod.

Minnesota's only above-average player offensively is star outfielder Byron Buxton, who scored on Keaschall's sacrifice fly on Thursday. The two-time All-Star tripled to left to set up the score, and that was the team's sole extra-base hit.

It's unfair to write off a team after one game, but Thursday did nothing to show that other Twins players can step up enough besides Ryan and Buxton. If that doesn't change over the next few months, the organization is better off trading those two. 

If Ryan and Buxton shine while Minnesota struggles moving forward, the club could flip them for prospects and young big-leaguers. That would require committing to a rebuild, but it might not have a choice at this rate.

The Twins haven't made the playoffs since 2023, and it won't happen this year unless players like Keaschall or third baseman Royce Lewis have breakout seasons. They made a rebuilding-type move when they dealt star shortstop Carlos Correa back to the Houston Astros for minor-league pitcher Matt Mikulski at the 2025 trade deadline, and they should follow suit with their remaining two stars. 

Ryan has a mutual option for 2027, while Buxton is signed through 2028. That gives Minnesota more time to deal Buxton, but it could sell high on both players this year if they have All-Star campaigns again. Both players are in their primes, and it doesn't make sense for them or the team to waste them on a squad that has little chance to go deep in the playoffs.

Up next for the Twins is an off day on Friday before a rematch with the Orioles in Baltimore on Saturday. Right-handed pitcher Taj Bradley will start for Minnesota against right-hander Kyle Bradish. The game will start at 4:05 p.m. ET.