Zebby Matthews (3-5, 4.56 ERA) draws Peter Lambert (6-4, 3.28 ERA) for Monday's 7:10 PM CT first pitch at Daikin Park — a matchup that tilts decisively toward the Astros on paper, and probably in reality too.
Lambert has quietly become one of the more reliable starters in the AL this season. In his last 4 starts he went 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA over 21.2 innings, and a hand scare from a comebacker earlier in June appears to be behind him. Matthews isn't without upside — he threw 7 shutout innings in his first start of 2026 — but he's pitching for a staff held together with duct tape. Pablo Lopez is gone for the year after UCL surgery in February. David Festa and Mick Abel are both on the shelf. Bailey Ober just returned in a rehab start and got shelled. Matthews is carrying more weight than any single arm should have to.
The Astros have gone 21-13 since May 21 — the best record in the AL over that stretch. They just took 3 of 4 from Detroit on the road and arrive at Daikin Park with real momentum. Yordan Alvarez has been the engine all year: 25 home runs, a .314 average, and a 1.045 OPS that leads all of baseball. The bullpen has done its part as well, posting a 2.64 ERA since May 15, with Steven Okert logging 17 straight scoreless innings. Minnesota split its final home series against Colorado before flying south — technically a winning series, but the 5-8 loss in the middle of it was a reminder of where this team actually stands.
- Day-To-DayRicardo Olivar C — Triple-A St. Paul transferred Olivar from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on June 4 while he recovers from a right knee sprain, Twins writer Brandon Warne reports.
- Day-To-DayJulian Merryweather RP — Merryweather (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMatt Canterino SP — Canterino (shoulder) will be with the Twins in big-league spring training but isn't expected to pitch during camp as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers C — Jeffers (hand) was spotted taking swings in the batting cage and catching a bullpen session Monday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBailey Ober SP — Ober (elbow) struck out one batter and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and no walks over 3.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with High-A Cedar Rapids.
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel SP — Abel will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands RP — Sands underwent an MRI on Friday that showed healing in his injured forearm, though inflammation was still present, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Acton RP — Acton (shoulder) resumed throwing off a mound last week, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCam Smith RF — Astros manager Joe Espada said that Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a sore foot, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek C — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
- 10-Day-ILNick Allen SS — Allen (hamstring) resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs over the weekend, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILLaMonte Wade Jr. 1B — Wade (hamstring) has resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs and is expected to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILBraden Shewmake SS — The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. SP — McCullers (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa RP — The Astros announced Friday that Sousa (elbow) has begun a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier SP — Javier (shoulder) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks across 4.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
The injury report does the Twins no favors heading into this series. They're missing 3 starters from the rotation and both catchers on the 40-man, including Ryan Jeffers (hand). For Houston, Carlos Correa's ankle surgery is a significant long-term loss, but the Astros have enough lineup depth to absorb it tonight. Under new manager Derek Shelton — who replaced Rocco Baldelli after last season — Minnesota is trying to build something sustainable, but a road trip to Minute Maid against one of the AL's hottest teams is exactly the kind of series that exposes a 40-45 club with nothing left in the rotation.