Twins' Zebby Matthews: Uneven showing in no-decision
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Inefficient in short outing
Rotowire
Matthews allowed two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six batters over four innings in a no-decision against Detroit on Saturday.
Matthews was relatively fortunate to have just two runs scored against him, as he didn't pitch any clean innings and saw at least two batters reach in three of his four frames. It took him 92 pitches to get through those four innings, and he threw just 51 of those offerings for strikes while issuing a season-worst four walks. Matthews did flash impressive strikeout stuff with 15 whiffs and six punchouts, and he's posted a robust 11.8 K/9 on the campaign. Despite that, Matthews has struggled to a 5.06 ERA, and he's been unable to complete five innings in half of his 10 starts.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Fans nine in loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Tosses six scoreless frames in win
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Surrenders five runs in loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Dazzles in rehab start
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Throws live batting practice
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Set for another bullpen session
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Throws bullen session
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: No-throw for two weeks
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Out with shoulder strain
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Overcomes shaky first inning
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Fans nine in no-decision
Rotowire
Matthews didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Royals, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out nine.
The young righty got the hook after 81 pitches (57 strikes) having established a career high for strikeouts in his 11th big-league start. However, Matthews once again failed to go deep into a game after lasting just three innings in his season debut May 18. His ability to miss bats isn't in question, but he'll need to become more efficient if he wants to stick around in the Minnesota rotation. Matthews will take a 7.71 ERA and 14:4 K:BB through his first seven innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Seattle.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Sticking in rotation
Rotowire
Matthews is slated to start Saturday's game against the Royals at Target Field.
Matthews entered the rotation last weekend as a replacement for righty Simeon Woods Richardson, who was demoted to Triple-A St. Paul after a string of poor outings. In his 2025 debut with the big club Sunday in Milwaukee, Matthews took a loss while giving up four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over three innings. Though he likely doesn't have a long leash in the Minnesota rotation, Matthews will get at least one more chance to redeem himself in his home start Saturday versus a Kansas City offense that has performed at roughly a league-average level (100 team wRC+) in May. With another rough start, however, Matthews could be at risk of a demotion himself, as David Festa is healthy again at Triple-A following a brief bout with arm fatigue and would make for an appealing alternative in the big-league rotation.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Might be part of six-man rotation
Rotowire
The Twins could recall Matthews and install him as part of a temporary six-man rotation, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
David Festa is expected to be promoted to start Friday, filling the rotation spot vacated by Pablo Lopez (hamstring). However, Matthews is a candidate to get a look in the majors soon as well as the Twins look to build in some extra rest for their other starters. Matthews has been dynamite in his first two starts with Triple-A St. Paul this season, allowing two runs with a 13:1 K:BB over 10 innings. It's not yet clear when he might start for the Twins, but he's a good candidate to stash in fantasy leagues where he's still available.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Sharp in return from hip injury
Rotowire
Matthews (hip) threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk in Wednesday's spring loss to Boston. It was his first outing since he suffered a strained hip during a Mar. 6 outing. "He probably had the sharpest outing that we've seen all spring," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Matthews exited his spring start last week due to what appeared to be an ankle injury but turned out to be a hip strain, but it sounds as though he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. He's battling for the fifth starter job but is likely to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul as Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack (head) still appear on track to win the No. 4 and No. 5 starter roles.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Looks sharp in spring debut
Rotowire
Matthews threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks in his first outing of the spring Saturday. He reached 97.4 mph with his fastball and also displayed a refined changeup which he worked to improve in the offseason, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Matthews was a fast-rising prospect last season who rose from High-A to the majors based on his impeccable control and strong strikeout rates but struggled in his first trip to the majors (6.69 ERA). He has an outside shot this spring to win the fifth starter role, but it's more likely he begins the season in Triple-A. He could still have a significant impact in the majors this season with his minuscule walk rate (1.0 BB/9 career in minors), strong strikeout rate (10.2 K/9 career in minors) and velocity.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Yields one run in no-decision
Rotowire
Matthews did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
The Minnesota rookie right-hander held his own against the division leaders in Cleveland, as he tallied five or more Ks for the fifth time in his seven starts. However, he allowed another long ball -- his ninth in 30 big-league innings - when Lane Thomas cracked a 424-foot solo shot in the fourth. With this effort, Matthews lowered his season ERA from 7.17 to 6.30, and he's also pitched to a 5.74 FIP, 1.60 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB. He currently projects to make his next start against the Red Sox on the road this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Takes first big-league loss
Rotowire
Matthews (1-1) took the loss against San Diego on Monday, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out one batter over five innings.
Matthews was given a one-run lead in the top of the first inning, but he allowed the Padres to score twice in the bottom of the frame. The rookie hurler allowed three more runs in the third -- those were all unearned, though the error that led to them was committed by Matthews himself. The right-hander added to the miscue with a pair of walks in the inning, which was very uncharacteristic for him given his minuscule 0.6 BB/9 over 97 frames in the minors this season. Matthews' command has been consistently outstanding throughout his time as a pro, so that aspect of his pitching will likely carry over to the majors. However, he made only four appearances at the Triple-A level (and registered a 5.68 ERA over 19 innings) prior to his call-up to the majors, so fantasy managers would probably be wise to tempter expectations as he adjusts to facing big-league hitters.
