Zebby Matthews keeps giving the Twins reasons to believe he belongs in their future rotation.
On Sunday afternoon at Target Field, the right-hander was one out away from carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox. By the time he was done, Matthews had worked 8 1/3 innings, allowed one run on five hits and did not issue a walk in Minnesota’s 5-1 win.
That kind of outing only sharpens the conversation around where he fits next year and beyond. Matthews is already staring at a crowded path, with Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Dean Kremer, Mick Abel, Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas all under contract through at least next season. Even so, he’s making a real case that he should be part of the Twins’ long-term starting-pitching picture.
The timing matters because Matthews’ season has already shown both sides of the ledger. He had a brutal July, finishing the month with a 7.66 ERA.
Then he bounced back in August, posting a 2.90 ERA over 31 innings in five starts. For the year, he owns a 4.58 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 112 innings.
His path to this point has been a winding one. Matthews opened the season at Triple-A St.
Paul, got recalled by Minnesota in mid-May, then was sent back to the Saints in early August to make room for Dean Kremer. He was back in the majors shortly after that when Joe Ryan went down with a glute injury.
What comes next could hinge on September. If Matthews closes the season strongly, he looks like a serious candidate for the 2027 rotation. If he falters, the Twins could start thinking about him in a bullpen role instead.
There’s also a bigger offseason question hanging over the staff. Minnesota could explore trading Joe Ryan and/or Pablo Lopez, both of whom have just one more year left on their deals and would likely bring back a strong return. If that happens, Matthews’ chances of opening 2027 in the rotation rise fast.
Even if the Twins don’t go that route, they could still choose to begin Matthews in Triple-A to start 2027. That would fit with the way teams usually protect pitching depth.
But that depth has already been tested. Entering spring training, it looked like a strength; now it’s clearly a weak spot, with Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan on the IL and Mick Abel also sidelined after starting the season in Minnesota’s rotation.
For now, Matthews has done the most important thing he can do: keep pitching like someone the Twins have to take seriously.
In Other News...
Twins Move On From Kyler Fedko In Painful Roster Twist
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Fedkos situation is complicated by the severe knee injury that altered his path, and the injury waiver rules now push him toward release. From there, the door is not necessarily closed, since he could potentially re-sign with Minnesota or land elsewhere, but for now the Twins have had to make the kind of roster decision that cuts deeper than most. [Read more 🡒]
Twins September Call-Ups Raise A Bigger Question About This Playoff Push
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For a club still hanging around the postseason race, the moves fit the moment: protect the pitching staff, widen the bench and give the lineup a few more ways to tilt an inning. What makes the call-ups more interesting is what they suggest about how the Twins want to navigate the final weeks, with bullpen depth and platoon flexibility taking on a little extra weight as the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Triple-A Lineup Is Suddenly Chasing An Even Bigger Record
The power surge in St. Paul has turned the Twins Triple-A affiliate into one of the loudest lineups in the minors. The Saints already had enough thump to make a statement, but their latest pair of long balls pushed them past the International League single-season home run record, with Kalai Rosario providing the tie and Cody Morissette delivering the one that moved them into new territory.
What makes the chase even more interesting from a Minnesota perspective is that this has become more than a one-player feat. The Saints now have 12 players with at least 10 home runs, a spread-out attack that has kept the lineup dangerous all season and left them within reach of the all-time minor league single-season home run mark held by El Paso. For a Twins organization that values depth and internal options, this kind of production is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]