Zebby Matthews expected to join Twins’ rotation

The lone run came in the ninth after Matthews gave up singles to two of the three batters he faced. Jeff Hoffman came in and allowed an RBI single before finishing the game. Matthews struck out five. He finished with a subpar 21 percent CSW and gave up 10 hard-hit balls, so it wasn’t really a dominant outing. It was an awfully effective one, though, and it should help ensure that he sticks in the rotation after Joe Ryan returns. He’ll face the White Sox again next weekend.

Matthews gave up six hits, walked one and struck out seven. He improved to 8-8 with the win. Matthews is 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts in August. He has a 4.86 ERA on the year. Matthews is lined up to face the White Sox at home on Sunday.

Ryan remains without a definitive return timeline, but Shelton added that he’ll require a rehab assignment before returning to Minnesota’s rotation. The 30-year-old ace has been out with a glute strain that put him on the injured list earlier this month. It sounds like there’s optimism he’ll make it back at some point in September.

Matthews gave up five hits, walked one and struck out four. He improved to 7-8 with the win. Matthews has suddenly won his last three starts. He has a 5.12 ERA this year. Matthews is lined up to face the Athletics on the road next week.

It was Ryan’s first bullpen session since landing on the injured list with a left glute strain back in early August. The 30-year-old upper-echelon fantasy starter has generally faded down the home stretch the last few years, so the hope is that the multi-week break helps get him back on track. He’ll need to progress to facing hitters in live batting practice before the Twins establish a definitive return timeline, which means fantasy managers shouldn’t expect Ryan back until some time in September.

Dylan Beavers’ three-run homer in the third was the big blow. However, the Twins immediately picked him up with four runs in the bottom of the inning and had a 7-4 lead when he departed after five. It’s Matthews’ second straight win after he went 0-3 in five starts in July. He’ll take a 5.34 ERA into his next start against the Braves.

Ryan was placed on the injured list with a glute strain on Friday, so it’s good news that he’s already throwing. Of course, throwing off flat ground means he’s not pushing off in the same way he would on a mound, which would test his glute a bit more. We may be looking at a minimum stay on the IL for Ryan, but he’ll need to progress to a mound at some point this week.

Matthews noticed the issue while warming up prior to the sixth inning, which prompted a visit from the training staff and his eventual removal. It doesn’t sound like anything that should require a trip to the injured list, but be sure to monitor his status over the next couple of days to be on the safe side.

Matthews gave up a solo homer to Jackson Chourio in the bottom of the first inning and allowed three more runs to come across to score in the second inning as the Twins quickly found themselves down 4-0. The Twins would battle back and eventually give Matthews a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but he would run into a bit of trouble when he loaded the bases with no outs to begin the frame. He would get Jake Bauers to hit into a sacrifice fly to retire his first batter of the frame, and forced Williams Contreras to fly out as well. Unfortunately, Garrett Mitchell would leg out an infield single on the next at-bat to draw the game even at 6-6. Matthews would make it through the inning, but was pulled while warming up in the sixth inning after trainers came out to speak with him on the mound. We don’t yet know the specifics of his injury, but this undoubtedly puts his next scheduled start, which is set for Wednesday against the Orioles, in jeopardy.

The 26-year-old hurler will rejoin the Twins’ rotation on Friday night against the Brewers, taking the place of the injured Joe Ryan (glute). Matthews has struggled in his time with the Twins this season, posting a 5.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 69/26 K/BB ratio over 81 innings in 14 starts. He’s not a recommended streaming option against the Brewers on Friday.