Zebby Matthews

Zebby Matthews has been optioned to Triple-A.

Fantasy Impact

Matthews was competing for a spot in the Twins' rotation to start the year. After battling a hip injury this spring, he will star the season in Triple-A as Simeon Woods-Richardson and Chris Paddack round out the starting five.

Zebby Matthews (hip) threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk in Wednesday’s loss to Boston, marking his first appearance since suffering a hip strain on March 6. "He probably had the sharpest outing that we've seen all spring," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Fantasy Impact

Matthews initially left a Grapefruit League game on March 6 with what appeared to be an ankle injury, but it was later diagnosed as a hip strain. His strong performance Wednesday suggests he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season. While he remains in the mix for Minnesota’s fifth starter role, he is expected to begin the year at Triple-A St. Paul, with Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack likely locking down the final rotation spots.

Zebby Matthews (hip) is expected to throw a bullpen session Sunday, per team reports.

Fantasy Impact

Matthews exited Thursday’s game against the Yankees with a hip strain—first pegged as an ankle issue, it’s minor—and his Sunday outing will shape his spring runway after a 2024 with nine Twins starts (1-4, 6.69 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 43:11 K:BB in 37.2 innings), mostly in the minors. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues can watch; he’s a fringe stash if he sticks.

Zebby Matthews was pulled from Thursday’s Grapefruit League matchup against the Yankees due to an apparent ankle injury, per team reports.

Fantasy Impact

Matthews, 24, slipped on his right foot/ankle while fielding a grounder in the fourth—walking off on his own is encouraging, but the Twins will check him out to rule out anything major. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues or dynasty setups tracking this prospect should stay tuned; his status could sway his spring momentum.

Zebby Matthews allowed six earned runs over three innings in Saturday's 9-2 loss to the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact

He surrendered seven hits and three walks while striking out five. This outing inflates Matthews's already concerning ERA to 6.69 and WHIP to 1.65 for the season, further tarnishing his fantasy appeal. Despite a decent strikeout rate of 10.3 K/9, his high FIP of 5.81 and BABIP of .364 suggest that both luck and skill deficits are at play here. Fantasy managers should be wary of relying on Matthews in any critical matchups, as his inconsistency and vulnerability are becoming more pronounced with each appearance.