Battle of the Arms: Has Zebby Matthews Overtaken David Festa?

Well Festa started opening day for the saints and didn’t give up any runs.  Not a bad start to the season. 
 

It’s exciting to have good pitching prospects but the only thing that matters is how they do against mlb hitters. So as far as making comparisons Thats the only one that matters (to me anyway).

Matthews’ rise is very good news. The Twins don’t have an ace, like a Verlander type, who can be trusted to stop a losing streak. Matthews probably isn’t an ace, but he likely can be at least another number 3 starter, like Ryan, Ober, and Lopez. Still, I hope someone emerges as at least a very strong number 2, because it’s unlikely the team can make a serious playoff run without a top of the rotation guy. Right now they don’t have that, just a handful of number 3s, which isn’t bad for the regular season, but not the best for the playoffs.

Paddack may end up in the bullpen and Matthews in the rotation. Sept/oct might even see Festa in the bullpen. Depth is nice to have. 

Don't know who will finish 2025 as the better prospect/pitcher.  My hope is that both will have fantastic first halves and pitch the second half for the Twins.  That would enable them to move on from both Paddack and Lopez.  Don't know what has happened to Pedro, but he doesn't seem to be the near ACE he was two years ago.  Keep thinking that this duo just might pitch as well as Pedro/Paddack in 2025 and better for a long time in the future.  

Yes, I know the season is only two games old, but there was nothing little I saw on the field that gives me hope that this is going to be a good season.  Made that change because I liked what I saw from Larnach and Castro's bats and Buxton in center field.  Also thought Ryan had a good start yesterday, although he maybe allowed a few too many baserunners. 

What I did like was the Cardinals.  A couple mature hitters at the top of their lineup who do what they are expected to with runners on base.  Add a few young guys at the bottom that can run and create havoc doing so.  Also loved their overall team defense.  Heck of a team that appears to be in the middle of retooling.

Why does it matter? Both will get chances. The first opportunity will not be based on an overtaking or ranking. It will depend on which pitcher’s schedule fits the Twins need in that moment. A few years ago the Twins had Ober and Varland in AAA with a need for a starter. Varland was chosen over Ober. The decision wasn’t based on an overtaking or ranking. Varland’s pitching schedule matched up with the opening better.

1 hour ago, Otaknam said:

Matthews’ rise is very good news. The Twins don’t have an ace, like a Verlander type, who can be trusted to stop a losing streak. Matthews probably isn’t an ace, but he likely can be at least another number 3 starter, like Ryan, Ober, and Lopez. Still, I hope someone emerges as at least a very strong number 2, because it’s unlikely the team can make a serious playoff run without a top of the rotation guy. Right now they don’t have that, just a handful of number 3s, which isn’t bad for the regular season, but not the best for the playoffs.

The Twins have 3 starters ranked in the top 26.  i'm not saying they are aces, but they are not #3 starters.

The Twins seems to have a plethora of up and coming arms right now,  which is good.  They are all reaching their mid 20's.  Why not package a a couple for a up and coming 1st baseman type?   The big team really could use some additional consistent offensive punch.

1 hour ago, rdehring said:

Don't know who will finish 2025 as the better prospect/pitcher.  My hope is that both will have fantastic first halves and pitch the second half for the Twins.  That would enable them to move on from both Paddack and Lopez.  Don't know what has happened to Pedro, but he doesn't seem to be the near ACE he was two years ago.  Keep thinking that this duo just might pitch as well as Pedro/Paddack in 2025 and better for a long time in the future.  

Yes, I know the season is only two games old, but there was nothing little I saw on the field that gives me hope that this is going to be a good season.  Made that change because I liked what I saw from Larnach and Castro's bats and Buxton in center field.  Also thought Ryan had a good start yesterday, although he maybe allowed a few too many baserunners. 

What I did like was the Cardinals.  A couple mature hitters at the top of their lineup who do what they are expected to with runners on base.  Add a few young guys at the bottom that can run and create havoc doing so.  Also loved their overall team defense.  Heck of a team that appears to be in the middle of retooling.

Pedro Lopez?????  

Matthews is a definite rotation arm, and throwing 130+ innings last season means he is ready for a full-season of worjk this year, fer sure.

Festa will be given anothe chance to be a rotation arm, probably the first up for that double-deaer play, or if a roster move is made. It will be up to him to cement a mid-rotation spot, or eventually become a bullpen arm... which is where he should excel if he wishes to go that route.

And then we have Lewis and a couple of others on the verge. Which means the Twins have to make a hard decision on who to keep longer term - Ober, Ryan or Lopez. They have to tie up Ryan or Ober sometime during this season. I would suspect Ryan would walk and just play out his Twins time if not offered a contract. And that also means the Twins, depending on the the standings, would have to be in a position to trade any of the guys they may not extend. Like the Guardians, the Twins seem to be in a situation now where they can move players as they come close to the end of their arbitration years, as there are others on the verge.

Splitting hairs here.  Both are relatively upper end pitching prospects.  Both will be given opportunities.  All that matters is the MLB results.

3 hours ago, Exiled in Illinois said:

We don't need to trade for a up and coming 1st baseman type, we already have one (Lewis).  Just need to convince him,  and then get him ready to play there in 2026.  Too late to make that change now, will have to hope France comes through till then.

Yeah if he ever stays healthy.  He so far has not shown that he is willing to change positions. I am beginning to question his overall makeup.  But of course I am not in the clubhouse.  One thing I will give Sano and I am sure it hurt his career is he was always willing to change positions to help the team,  He went from 3rd to left to 3rd to 1st and listened to fans and writers critique his defense. Had to be hard to keep his mind on the game. 

I don't know what it means to "overtake" or if it matters.  Foremost, Zebby has been the better prospect for a year now.  Second, there are reasons to leave Zebby down at AAA for a good chunk of time this year, so a healthy Festa will get the call first unless the actual day plays into it.

Zebby has to succeed at AAA for a period of time before he gets a call-up.  He wasn't ready for the majors last year, and so they won't skip AAA this year as they mostly needed to last year.