Yesterday, we were hyping Miami’s youth movement. Max Meyer struck out nine, Owen Caissie went yard, and Liam Hicks drove in runs. The future was bright! Today? A 25-year-old pitcher named Zebby Matthews — a dude who wasn’t even supposed to be here — shut us down like we owed him rent.
Welcome to being a Marlins fan.
Zebby Matthews: The Placeholder Who Turned Into a Problem
Let’s talk about Zebby Matthews, because this one hurts.
This guy wasn’t even in Minnesota’s rotation. He got sent down after a rough spring, recalled Thursday as a placeholder to give another rookie an extra day of rest. The Twins weren’t expecting much.
Instead, Matthews threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. He didn’t even reach a three-ball count until the seventh inning.
Miami’s only real offensive moment? Back-to-back singles from Liam Hicks and Otto Lopez in the first inning. After that, Matthews retired 19 of 22 batters.
“He went out there and attacked the zone,” said Austin Martin, who had a big day for the Twins. Thanks for the insight, Austin. Really. Super helpful.
Braxton Garrett’s Nightmare Return
If Matthews’ gem was the main story, Braxton Garrett’s return was the gut punch.
This was supposed to be a big moment. Garrett, our former 7th overall pick, was back after nearly two years recovering from UCL surgery. His first inning gave us hope: bases loaded, no outs, and he struck out the side like a magician.
Then came the second inning. And the wheels fell off.
- First three batters reached.
- Austin Martin hit a ground-rule double.
- Josh Bell doubled to bring in two more.
- By the time the inning ended, Garrett had allowed 5 runs in just 4 outs.
It was a rough day for a guy who clearly still has the talent but couldn’t locate his pitches when it mattered most.
📊 Final Scoreboard
| Category | Marlins | Twins |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | 1 | 9 |
| Hits | 4 | 10 |
| Starting Pitcher | Garrett (4 outs, 5 ER) | Matthews (7 IP, 0 R) |
| Key Performers | Hicks (1H), Lopez (1H) | Martin (2H, 3 RBI), Outman (2H, 3 RBI) |
The Bigger Picture: Uh-Oh
Let’s be real: this is more than one bad game. It’s a pattern.
Simeon Woods Richardson has a 9.79 ERA over his last seven starts. Now Braxton Garrett couldn’t get through two innings. Our rotation depth is being tested, and so far, it’s failing.
Meanwhile, the guy who just embarrassed us, Zebby Matthews, is making a case to stick in Minnesota’s rotation. His Triple-A stats? A 2.67 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 8 walks over his last five starts. He’s earned another chance.
Silver Linings (Kind of)
- Liam Hicks and Otto Lopez had a solid first inning.
- We’re still just two points behind Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference standings (wait, wrong sport – LOL).
Next Stop: Tampa Bay
The Marlins head home to face the Rays on Friday. Janson Junk will take the mound against Jesse Scholtens. After today’s disaster, a home series can’t come soon enough.
One last thought: Zebby Matthews wasn’t even supposed to be here. And yet, here we are.
Sources:
Twinkie Town | “Twins 9, Marlins 1: Zoned-In Zebby Zeros Zombie Miami”
MLB.com | “Zebby Matthews Tosses Scoreless Gem in First Start of 2026”
Star Tribune | “Zebby Matthews Has Strong First Outing for Twins in 2026”
