Familiar MN Twins Pitcher Called Up for Another Chance

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Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins are currently 19-24 after a loss in game two of their series against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday snapped a three-game win streak. The bigger concern, however, is the team’s current pitching staff conundrum.

Not only is Minnesota’s bullpen among the worst in baseball, but a once-steady starting rotation is falling apart at the seems. The latest starter to land on IR was Taj Bradley, who was scratched from his start last week with a pec inflammation injury.

He joined a plethora of other rotation casualties, including Pablo Lopez, Mick Abel and David Festa. If you were wondering when we’ll see some of these starters back on the mound, just know that Bradley is throwing again, which places him ahead of the other three pitchers mentioned in this paragraph.

Zebby Matthews recalled by Minnesota Twins

In other words, the MN Twins are running out of competent starters to run out on their big league bump on a day-to-day basis. That’s why, now 43 games into the 2026 regular season, they are turning to less-competent options.

Which is why, on Thursday, they are calling up Zebby Matthews to make his 2026 MLB debut this afternoon at Target Field against the Marlins.

Matthews couldn’t make the Opening Day roster over Mick Abel and Simeon Woods Richardson, and he hasn’t gotten that much better across the river in St. Paul, since.

Through 34.1 innings this season with the Saints, posting a 4.72 ERA to go along with his 1.51 WHIP while compiling 33 strikeouts and 11 walks. Most troubling, Triple-A hitters are batting .297 against Zebby so far this season and they’ve already smacked 9 homers against him.

While not surprising considering his .167 average, Matt Wallner has finally been sent to Triple-A. 34 games into his fifth season, and in the midst of terrible performance, the MN Twins decided they have seen enough. Ryan Kreidler is coming up to take his spot, while Travis Adams was optioned to make room for Matthews.

Matthews has been pitching much better of late

To Matthews’ credit, however, he allowed 10 of his earned runs in his first two appearances (7 1/3 IP) for the Saints earlier this season. He’s been much better of late, giving up just eight earned runs in his last 27 innings (2.67 ERA). That’s earned him this next-man-up opportunity.

Not only does Matthews look the part of an elite starter, standing 6’5″ and 225 pounds, but he brings the heat to back it up, throwing his fastball in the high 90s.

The 25-year-old has 25 big league starts under his belt. Given how desperate the Twins are for competent starters, this is a huge opportunity for Zebby, who cratered his rising baseball trajectory a season ago, when he posted a 5.56 ERA (3.79 FIP) across 79 1/3 innings (16 starts).

Can Zebby Matthews be who MN Twins thought he was?

The former 8th round pick (2022) had developed into something of a weapon, prior to 2025. In fact, for a little while there, he looked like a future mainstay in the rotation.

When at his best, Matthews pairs his average 96+ MPH heater with nasty offspeed stuff and pinpoint accuracy. Over the course of his minor league career (276.1 innings), he’s struckout 312 opposing hitters, while walking just 42.

A deeper look into his career numbers, tells us he’s been unlucky in the MLB too, which you can see in his 4.41 FIP — significantly better than his 5.92 career ERA. Now, he’ll will be the eighth starter to pitch for the MN Twins this season.

Zebby Matthews last threw on May 8th against the Las Vegas Aviators. That means he’ll be on six days of rest when he takes his first big league turn of the 2026 season. The talent and stuff is there for the Western Carolina alum, if he can pull it back together.

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