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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: Recalled ahead of Thursday's start
Rotowire
The Twins recalled Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Matthews is set to start Thursday's game against the Marlins as the Twins bake in some extra rest for Connor Prielipp. The 25-year-old Matthews hasn't pitched well overall this season at St. Paul but has been better lately, going eight innings in his last start and allowing a total of four runs with an 18:6 K:BB across 18 frames covering his last three starts. It's likely to be just a spot start, but Matthews could convince the Twins to keep him around if he pitches well.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Starting Thursday
Rotowire
Twins manager Derek Shelton said that Matthews will be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Thursday's game against the Marlins, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
The Twins are trying to give rookie Connor Prielipp an extra day or two of rest between starts and will turn to Matthews for what may just be a spot start. Matthews has struggled at Triple-A St. Paul this season, posting a 4.72 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 34.1 innings.
The Twins optioned Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Matthews had been a candidate to make Minnesota's Opening Day rotation, but the 25-year-old will come up short. In 2025, the right-hander made 16 big-league starts, posting a 5.56 ERA and an 88:24 K:BB across 79.1 innings. Matthews' move to Triple-A likely means Mick Abel will have a spot in the Twins' rotation.
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.
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
Rotowire
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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