The Minnesota Twins wrap up a West Coast trip with a Tuesday night regular season contest against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, first pitch scheduled for 9:45 PM ET. Taj Bradley gets the start for Minnesota, squaring off against Giants right-hander Anthony Molina in a game that carries genuine late-September weight. With the calendar winding down and every game in the standings mattering, the Twins need to come away from the Bay Area with a strong showing before heading home.
Twins vs. Giants: Tuesday September 22, 2026 Game Preview
Oracle Park is a pitcher-friendly environment on most nights, with the marine layer rolling in off the bay capable of keeping the ball in the yard. That setting could work in Minnesota's favor if Bradley is on his game. The late start — 9:45 PM ET — means a long night for Twins fans tuning in on WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, or Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, but late-September baseball is worth staying up for.
Pitching Matchup: Taj Bradley vs. Anthony Molina
Bradley draws the assignment for Minnesota. The right-hander has been part of the Twins rotation and will need to manage Oracle Park's dimensions and a Giants lineup that plays well at home. His ability to generate weak contact and command the strike zone will be critical in a ballpark where pitching tends to dictate outcomes.
On the other side, Anthony Molina gets the ball for San Francisco. Information on Molina's season numbers is limited heading into this one, which means the Twins will need to do their homework early in the game, work counts, and avoid getting beaten by a pitcher who has the benefit of pitching at home.
Keys to Watch for the Twins
- Bradley's command: Keeping the ball down and limiting hard contact at Oracle Park is essential. Walks will hurt in a ballpark where the Giants know how to manufacture runs.
- Early offensive discipline: Facing a pitcher without a deep public track record, Minnesota's lineup should prioritize working counts to get a read on Molina's stuff before expanding the zone.
- Bullpen management: A 9:45 PM ET start on the road in late September means the Twins' backend arms need to be ready. Roster decisions down the stretch will factor into how manager Rocco Baldelli deploys his relievers.
- Situational hitting: Oracle Park suppresses offense. Runs will be at a premium, so the Twins cannot afford to leave traffic stranded on the basepaths.
Prediction
This is the kind of game that comes down to which starting pitcher establishes command first. Oracle Park tends to keep scores tight, and a low-run environment puts extra pressure on every at-bat. Bradley has the tools to keep Minnesota in this game deep into the evening. The Twins grind out a close win, 3-2, picking up a valuable road victory as the regular season approaches its final days.
