Twins' Zebby Matthews: Turns in another gem in loss
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Matthews (1-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Astros, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six over six innings. He did not issue a walk.
Matthews fell behind immediately, surrendering a two-run homer to Isaac Paredes before recording his first out of the night, but the right-hander settled in beautifully afterward. Over the next five innings, he allowed just three baserunners while consistently attacking the zone, throwing 66 of his 100 total pitches for strikes. Despite the loss, Matthews has looked excellent since being recalled, limiting opponents to two runs with an 11:1 K:BB across 13 innings over his first two starts back in the majors. The 25-year-old is currently scheduled for a matchup against the White Sox next, the first in a two-start week.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Drawing another start
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Matthews is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Astros at Target Field.
Though he had struggled to a middling 4.72 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over seven starts with Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season, Matthews turned in a gem in his 2026 MLB debut after being called up by the Twins last week. In his start last Thursday versus the Marlins, Matthews struck out five while allowing just four hits and one walk over seven scoreless frames. He'll be rewarded with a second turn through the rotation on the back of that stellar performance, and another strong showing against the Astros could set Matthews up for a longer-term stay with the big club.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Shines in season debut
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Matthews (1-0) earned the win Thursday against the Marlins, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out seven.
The Twins wanted to give rookie Connor Prielipp some extra rest, summoning Matthews from the minor leagues for a spot start Thursday, but now they may have to consider keeping Matthews around for more than just one turn through the rotation. The right-hander cruised past the Miami bats in his second career scoreless appearance, firing 56 of his 83 pitches for strikes while receiving plenty of run support. With Taj Bradley (pectoral) on the injured list, Matthews may have bought himself at least one more start with Minnesota early next week versus Houston.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Potential fifth starter
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Matthews has a chance to win a rotation spot for the Twins this spring, and one more spot is now open in the wake of Pablo Lopez's elbow injury, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Leach surmised that Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson were likely ahead of Matthews in the pecking order to begin spring training, but Lopez's injury now opens up a third spot in the rotation. Mick Abel and David Festa (shoulder) are also options for the Twins.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Won't make another start
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Matthews is not scheduled to make a start this weekend in Philadelphia.
Matthews had tentatively lined up to pitch the regular-season finale Sunday, but the Twins have Simeon Woods Richardson scheduled to take the ball that day instead. The righty bounced back from a couple rough outings to throw seven innings of one-run ball versus the Rangers on Tuesday in what turned out to be his final start of the season. Matthews will finish with a 5.56 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 88:24 K:BB over 79.1 frames covering 16 starts for Minnesota in 2025.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Fires seven strong innings
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Matthews (5-6) got the win Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six in seven innings. He did not issue a walk.
Matthews allowed a solo home run to Joc Pederson on just his second pitch of the game but shut down the Rangers from there. Tuesday's performance was an excellent bounce-back effort from Matthews after he was shelled his last time out, tying his career worst in runs allowed (nine) while setting a new career worst in hits allowed (11). The quality start was Matthews' third in his last five outings in what's been a strong finish to an up-and-down season for the 25-year-old. Matthews lines up for one additional road start this weekend against the Phillies.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Knocked around in sixth loss
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Matthews (4-6) took the loss Tuesday, allowing nine runs on 11 hits and two walks over three innings in a 10-9 loss against the Yankees. He struck out two.
Matthews was tagged for runs in each of the three innings he worked Tuesday, failing to find a groove before being pulled. The 25-year-old has endured a tough season, posting a 5.97 ERA and 1.58 WHIP across 15 starts and 72.1 innings. Still, there are reasons for optimism in his underlying metrics, including a 3.85 FIP and 3.4 K/BB pointing to better potential than the surface stats suggest.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Tagged for five runs in fifth loss
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Matthews (4-5) took the loss Tuesday against the Angels, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out five.
The five runs allowed were Matthews' most since July 30 versus Boston. The 25-year-old right-hander has now failed to throw at least five frames in seven of his 14 outings this season, and he's also walked multiple batters in four of his last five appearances. Matthews will carry a 5.06 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 80:22 K:BB over 69.1 innings into his next start, which lines up for next week in a tough spot against the Yankees.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Uneven showing in no-decision
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Matthews took a no-decision Friday against the White Sox, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Matthews tied a season high in hits allowed, and the four punchouts matched a season low. The 25-year-old right-hander has exhibited some promising strikeout upside in 2025, as he's fanned 67 over 52.2 innings, but he's struggled mightily with preventing runs and keeping the hits down while submitting a 5.30 ERA and .288 BAA. Matthews will remain a risky fantasy option in his next scheduled appearance, which is set to be a difficult task on the road against the first-place Blue Jays.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Fans nine in loss
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Matthews (3-4) suffered the loss Monday at the Yankees, yielding three runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out nine.
The young right-hander looked solid in this 99-pitch outing, as he dazzled with 18 whiffs, but was bitten by the long ball in Yankee Stadium. All three runs Matthews conceded came on three solo homers -- Cody Bellinger in the first and Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice in the third. Since rejoining the Minnesota rotation July 19, Matthews has pitched to a 5.04 ERA and 1.28 WHIP but has featured an impressive 32:3 K:BB across 25 frames. He currently lines up to make his next start at home against the Tigers this weekend.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Tosses six scoreless frames in win
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Matthews (2-2) earned the win against the Nationals on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out seven across six scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.
Matthews was dominant in his first quality start of the season, limiting the Nationals to just three baserunners while generating 12 whiffs and seven groundballs on 81 pitches (54 strikes). It was his second start since being reinstated from the 15-day injured list July 19, and while he's had his struggles in the majors this season, Friday's outing lowered his numbers to a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 29 innings. Even with Bailey Ober (hip) nearing a return from the injured list, Matthews should stay in the Twins' rotation after David Festa (shoulder) landed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday. Matthews is slated to make his next start against the Guardians on the road next weekend.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Surrenders five runs in loss
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Matthews (1-2) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out six over four-plus innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Rockies.
The Twins took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Rockies chipped away at it over the remainder of Matthews' start, which was his first major-league outing since June 4. He threw 77 pitches (51 strikes) before he was pulled from the game after running into trouble in the fifth frame. The 25-year-old is now at a 6.26 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB through 23 innings over five starts in the majors this season. Matthews is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Nationals, though he or David Festa could be at risk of losing the last spot in the rotation once Bailey Ober (hip) returns from the injured list.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Activated ahead of start
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The Twins reinstated Matthews (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
After missing more than a month with a shoulder strain, Matthews will return from the IL and start Saturday's game versus Colorado. The 25-year-old is coming off a brilliant minor-league start, during which he struck out nine batters in four shutout frames, and he'll be welcomed back to the big leagues by a Rockies offense that ranks 27th in MLB with a .673 OPS this season. Travis Adams was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Dazzles in rehab start
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Matthews (shoulder) struck out nine and and allowed no hits and one walk over four shutout innings Sunday in his rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul.
Pitching in a game setting for the first time since June 4, Matthews was about as sharp as the Twins could have hoped. The right-hander showed no signs of being limited by the moderate subscapularis strain that has kept him on the shelf for more than a month, as he needed just 56 pitches to record his 12 outs while flashing a fastball that topped out at around 97 to 98 miles per hour. Though Matthews isn't yet fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload, the Twins could nonetheless be willing to bring him back from the injured list for the first turn through the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. Matthews went 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB in 19 innings over his first four starts of the season for Minnesota before landing on the shelf.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Throws live batting practice
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Matthews (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
It's the first time Matthews has faced hitters since he was diagnosed in early June with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. If he bounces back well from Tuesday's session, Matthews could be cleared for a rehab assignment. Given that he hasn't pitched in more than a month, the 25-year-old is sure to require at least a couple rehab starts before the Twins consider putting him back into their rotation.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Set for another bullpen session
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Matthews (shoulder) is set to throw a third bullpen session Sunday and could face live hitters next week, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Matthews could be set to begin a rehab assignment in a week or so if all goes well. He's been on the shelf since June 8 due to a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. Matthews could be ready to return from the injured list shortly after the All-Star break.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Throws bullen session
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Matthews (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Target Field on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Matthews has been on the shelf since June 8 due to a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. He'll likely need to complete at least a couple more bullpen sessions before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice and then heading out on a rehab assignment. Matthews could be ready to return from the injured list shortly after the All-Star break.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: No-throw for two weeks
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Matthews was diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Now that the Twins know exactly what kind of injury Matthews is dealing with, the plan is to shut him down for roughly two weeks. He'll be re-evaluated following his no-throw period, at which point a clearer timeline for his return may emerge. Simeon Woods Richardson was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday and figures to remain in Minnesota's rotation until Matthews is cleared to return.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Out with shoulder strain
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The Twins placed Matthews on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right shoulder strain.
Though he pitched effectively this past Wednesday against the Athletics en route to claiming his first big-league win of the year, Matthews apparently came out of that outing with a shoulder injury. The loss of the right-hander is the second big blow to the Minnesota rotation in less than a week, after Pablo Lopez was shelved Thursday due to a right teres major muscle strain that will likely keep him out for 2-3 months. The Twins haven't named a replacement for Matthews, but Simeon Woods Richardson could be summoned from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the void.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Overcomes shaky first inning
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Matthews allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.
Matthews gave up back-to-back home runs to Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena in the first inning, putting the Twins in an early 4-0 hole. They were able to dig out of it, sparing the 25-year-old right-hander from taking his second loss. He hadn't allowed a homer over his first two starts and Matthews now has a 6.43 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB over 14 innings this season. Matthews' next start is tentatively projected to be on the road versus the Athletics.
