Athletics Twins series opener pits Lopez against Matthews
The Athletics Twins series opens Friday in Minneapolis with Jacob Lopez facing Zebby Matthews as Minnesota (51-53) sits 2½ games from an AL wild-card berth and the A's (43-59) play spoiler amid a trade-deadline scramble. Twins carry momentum from consecutive Guardians wins into a six-game homestand.
Key Takeaways
- Minnesota is 4½ games behind the AL Central lead and 2½ from the final wild-card spot.
- Jacob Lopez (4-4, 6.64 ERA) starts for the Athletics against Zebby Matthews (4-7, 5.40 ERA).
- The Twins closed a 3-4 road trip with back-to-back wins over Cleveland before this homestand.
- Injuries have thinned the A's roster and left their bullpen short on proven late-inning arms.
- Both clubs face a buy-or-sell decision with the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching.
Game 103 of the Athletics' season starts a three-game weekend set at Target Field and the first stop on Minnesota's six-game home stretch, which also includes Kansas City. For more sports-and-tech coverage across the site, browse our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Why does this Athletics Twins matchup matter now?
The clubs arrive in opposite lanes. According to CBS Sports, the Twins returned home "with their chins up" despite going 3-4 on the road, buoyed by a 3-1, 12-inning escape against the Guardians.
Manager Derek Shelton said it was one of the rare times going home 3-4 that he felt good about it. That vibe matters because Minnesota's front office is still weighing whether to buy, stand pat, or sell before Aug. 3.
The Athletics, at 43-59 after losing two of three in Arizona and going 2-4 since the All-Star break, are largely out of the race. Athletics Nation notes that October baseball is a fantasy for them—and that this weekend is a chance to spoil Minnesota's climb.
Who is pitching in the Athletics Twins series opener?
Left-hander Jacob Lopez makes his 16th appearance and 13th start for the A's. He is 4-4 with a 6.64 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 59⅔ innings, still hunting his first win since May 24 against San Diego.
In his latest outing versus Washington, Lopez allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in 4⅓ innings with six strikeouts, matching a season high. Yahoo Sports notes the A's need more length from him given bullpen concerns.
Opposite him is third-year right-hander Zebby Matthews, 4-7 with a 5.40 ERA over 70 innings. Matthews is bouncing back from his worst 2026 start: the Cubs tagged him for 10 runs (eight earned) on nine hits in three-plus innings.
In his only prior start against the Athletics, on June 4, 2025, Matthews earned the win after allowing one run on four hits in five innings.
How are injuries and the trade deadline shaping the series?
Injuries have hit the Athletics hard. Right-handers J.T. Ginn and Mark Leiter Jr. and infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer landed on the injured list this week, joining a longer list that includes Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Zack Gelof, Luis Severino, and Justin Sterner.
Manager Mark Kotsay called the bullpen stretch "challenging," saying there is little experience and few track records to shut down an inning. Before Friday's game, the A's optioned right-hander Yunior Tur—who allowed 14 runs in his first 2⅔ MLB innings—and recalled former top prospect Luis Morales.
Minnesota owns interesting trade chips if it sells, including Joe Ryan, catcher Ryan Jeffers, and center fielder Byron Buxton, who is having one of his best seasons in years. Ownership has signaled it would rather not wave the white flag while this close to October.
Sunday's series finale is expected to feature Jeffrey Springs against Twins ace Joe Ryan. First pitch Friday is set for 5:10 p.m.