The Minnesota Twins are looking to turn heads this season and make a serious push for the postseason. To do that, they'll need their ace, Joe Ryan, leading the charge on the mound. But when the right-handed pitcher left a recent start with elbow soreness, fans held their breath. Fortunately, the news just took a positive turn.

According to Dan Hayes, Ryan played catch on Tuesday and is scheduled for a bullpen session on Wednesday. Even better, his MRI on Sunday came back clean—a huge relief for a team that can't afford to lose its top arm. Anytime a pitcher and "elbow" are in the same sentence, it's a red flag, but it looks like Ryan dodged a serious bullet.

While it's still unclear exactly when he'll return to the rotation, Wednesday's bullpen will help the Twins map out a timeline. Expect the organization to be cautious, but the early signs suggest Ryan might not miss much time—if any.

The 29-year-old has posted a solid 3.72 ERA this season, with 40 strikeouts over 38.2 innings. He hasn't been dominating, but he's been reliable, giving his team a chance to win every time he toes the rubber.

The Twins are in Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals starting Tuesday, and they'll continue to keep fans updated on Ryan's status.

Minnesota sits at 15-20 this season, currently in last place in the American League Central. But don't let that fool you—they're just 2.5 games back of both the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers for the division lead. There have been ups and downs, but the potential is there.

The Nationals, meanwhile, are 16-19 and holding second place in the National League East, though they trail the Atlanta Braves by 8.5 games. Both teams have plenty to prove, making this series one to watch.