Zebby Matthews exits in fifth with right foot laceration, further complicating Twins’ pitching strain

Zebby Matthews’ day ended sooner than planned in Saturday afternoon’s start against the New York Yankees, when the Twins right-hander departed in the fifth inning with a right foot laceration. Matthews looked uncomfortable on the mound as the at-bat unfolded against Ben Rice, and he drew a mound visit from manager Derek Shelton and head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta after showing visible signs of distress.

Despite the concern, Matthews stayed in momentarily. He threw a warmup pitch and remained on the roster for the next sequence, but after a walk to Rice, Shelton and the athletic training staff returned and removed him from the game. The timing mattered, because the Yankees had managed only one hit through the first four innings, and Minnesota had kept the damage limited before the fifth.

What changed quickly was not just contact but control. In the fifth, Matthews issued three walks and then allowed a two-run home run to Max Schuemann, turning a manageable situation into a multi-run stretch. Across 4 2/3 innings, Matthews was charged with four runs, giving up three hits, walking four, and recording five strikeouts on 79 pitches (45 strikes).

The early run prevention was a continuation of how Matthews had been pitching lately. The Twins’ starter entered Saturday having produced a run-limiting stretch in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer while going at least six innings in each of his previous three starts, carrying a 4.15 ERA into the game. Against New York, however, the foot issue complicated his rhythm at the exact point where innings were already thinning.

For Minnesota, the setback landed in a season that has repeatedly tested pitching depth. MLB’s team coverage noted that injuries to right-handers Mick Abel and Bailey Ober had already strained the rotation, with rookie Mike Paredes pressed into regular work. Ober was scheduled for a second rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday night, underscoring that the Twins have been managing availability and workload while waiting for reinforcements to rejoin at full strength.

As of the immediate aftermath of the removal, the key question was whether Matthews’ foot injury would limit his ability to make another turn. CBS Sports reported that the Twins’ rotation timing for a subsequent start was not yet clear, pointing to the possibility of disruption even as Matthews’ injury details were still being assessed.

What to watch next is how Minnesota handles the near-term rotation math and whether additional innings are required from the bullpen. If Matthews is forced to miss time, the Twins could lean further on Paredes and other depth options, and that would increase the importance of bullpen stability in the days after a shortened start.