The Athletics head into their series with the Twins riding the high of an upset series win over the Astros, but the rotation picture makes this next matchup feel a lot less comfortable. After dropping their last set against Minnesota 2-1 from July 24-26, the A’s get another crack at the Twins and will spend plenty of time trying to survive the pitching matchups one game at a time.
The opener looks like a spot where Oakland will need to be sharp. Jeffrey Springs is coming off one of his better outings of the season against the Royals, when he worked 5.2 innings and gave up five hits and two runs.
Even so, his season-long line is still ugly: a 3-11 record and a 6.02 ERA. The home run issue has been a major problem too, with Springs allowing 29 long balls, the fourth-most in MLB.
Minnesota counters with Zebby Matthews, who has had his own uneven season. He enters at 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, though his last start was encouraging.
Against the Braves, he allowed just one run on five hits over 5.2 innings. He also already faced the Athletics on July 24, when he held them to three hits across 6.0 innings and gave up two runs in a Twins win.
Game 2 sets up as another test for the A’s, and this one could tilt Minnesota’s way on recent form. Gage Jump has put together a 5-8 record with a 4.83 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP overall, but the second half has been a steep drop-off.
Since the break, he’s 2-4 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. The flashes are still there, but trust is becoming harder to come by, and Oakland may not wait long if the outing starts to unravel.
Taj Bradley brings a steadier profile for the Twins. He owns a 3.90 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP this season, and his most recent start was one of his best, as he allowed one run and two hits in 5.0 innings. On paper, that gives Minnesota a clear edge in the second game.
The one matchup where Oakland can breathe a little easier comes with JT Ginn on the mound. He’s been the Athletics’ clear advantage in the series, and his season numbers back that up: 8-8 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
His last outing wasn’t spotless, though, as he worked 5.0 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. Ginn hasn’t looked fully dominant since July 18 against the Nationals, when he threw 6.1 innings and gave up one hit.
Minnesota’s starter in that game, Connor Prielipp, has had a tougher year. He’s 3-7 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP, and his last start against the Padres was rough. He allowed eight hits and six runs over 6.0 innings in a loss.
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Clarke is already known for the tools that make him stand out, and nights like this only sharpen the question of how soon Oakland wants to test that upside at the next level. With the organization juggling performances from across the farm, his recent run is starting to look less like a brief surge and more like a player forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]
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Henry Bolte has helped steady that shuffle, giving the As a different look at the top of the lineup, while Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler have both started to turn in better at-bats at the right time. For a team that has been scrambling for stability, the encouraging part is not just that bodies are filling spots, but that several of those replacements are beginning to swing the bat well enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]