Twins Probable Starting Pitchers Revealed for Series Against Athletics

The Minnesota Twins will trust these three starters against the Athletics in a road series.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (52) turns the ball over to manager Derek Shelton at Target Field. Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Twins look to rebound quickly after getting swept by the San Diego Padres by paying a visit to the Athletics in West Sacramento for a three-game series. The Athletics haven't played well this season, but that doesn't mean the Twins can take them lightly.

Minnesota enters the new series with a 63-68 record and sits in third place in the AL Central standings, trailing both the Cleveland Guardians and first-place Chicago White Sox. According to FanGraphs, the Twins hold a 20.6% chance of making the playoffs, with an 11% chance of winning the division.

For a Twins team that wasn’t expected to be a playoff contender at the start of the season, it’s crucial for them to perform better against weaker teams like the Athletics, which they should be able to defeat. The best way to restore their morale, as it was after sweeping the Atlanta Braves, is to win the first game of a new series.

Here are the projected starting pitchers for manager Derek Shelton.

Game 1 - Zebby Matthews

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (52) delivers a pitch at Target Field. Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Zebby Matthews is scheduled to get the series underway for Minnesota, coming off an outing where he allowed just one run to the Braves. In August, Matthews has a 4.60 ERA, but has pitched better than his numbers may suggest.

In his last outing, Matthews pitched in 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and striking out four. Over the season, he holds a 5.12 ERA, which is very bloated. For the Twins' playoff chances to increase, they need better performances on the mound from guys like Matthews.

Game 2 - Taj Bradley

Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley (26) during a baseball game at the Field of Dreams. Credit | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Another Twins starter looking to build off his last start against the Braves is Taj Bradley. Bradley tossed five innings of two-hit ball, allowing one run to the Braves while striking out seven and walking three. It was easily his best start of August, in which he holds a 5.40 ERA.

Bradley has been one of the better pitchers for Minnesota this season, and if the playoffs are made, he'll be a reason why the dream became reality. For 2026 and entering the series, Bradley holds a 3.90 ERA with a 9-5 record, 158 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.28.

Game 3 - Connor Prielipp

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Connor Prielipp (61) throws a pitch. Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If there was anyone in the Twins' starting rotation in need of a huge game on the mound, it's Connor Prielipp. Prielipp holds an extremely bloated 8.44 ERA in August alone and a season ERA of 5.57. His rookie campaign hasn't gone as he thought, but there's still room for improvement.

Luckily for Prielipp, the Athletics haven't hit the ball well this year, which favors him on the mound. In his last start against the Athletics, Prielipp allowed just one run over 5.2 innings. It's that performance the Twins will need in the series finale and down the final stretch of 2026.