The Minnesota Twins head to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to take on the Athletics on Monday, August 24, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET. Zebby Matthews gets the ball for Minnesota against Oakland's Jeffrey Springs in what shapes up as a pitching matchup worth watching late on a Monday night. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every game carries real weight in the standings — and a road trip to face the A's is no gimme, even if it might look like one on paper.
Probable Pitchers: Zebby Matthews vs. Jeffrey Springs
Zebby Matthews draws the start for the Twins. The young right-hander has been part of Minnesota's rotation conversation this season, and this is exactly the kind of spot where he needs to go out and log innings while keeping the offense in check. The A's lineup may not be the most feared in the American League, but they can make a pitcher pay for mistakes, especially at home.
Jeffrey Springs gets the nod for Oakland. Springs is a veteran arm who can be difficult to square up when his stuff is working. The Twins will need to work counts, get on base, and make Springs throw pitches deep into at-bats if they want to crack him open late in the game.
Keys to Watch for the Twins
- Matthews's command: If he can keep the ball in the zone and avoid big innings, Minnesota has the lineup to win a low-scoring game on the road.
- Offensive patience: Springs can be a rhythm pitcher. The Twins need to disrupt that rhythm early by working deep counts and not chasing his off-speed offerings out of the zone.
- Bullpen management: A 9:40 PM ET first pitch on the West Coast means this game runs late. How Minnesota's bullpen holds up if Matthews is pulled before the seventh inning could decide the outcome.
- Situational hitting: Road wins often come down to capitalizing on runners in scoring position. The Twins cannot afford to strand opportunities against a team they should be able to beat.
Game Prediction
This game has the feel of a grind-it-out affair. Neither starter is likely to dominate completely, and the late West Coast start adds an element of unpredictability. If Matthews keeps the A's to three runs or fewer through five or six innings, the Twins offense should have enough to get the win. Minnesota takes this one 5-3, with the bullpen closing it out without too much drama.
Catch the game on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, WCCO 830 AM, or The Wolf 102.9 FM.
