Minnesota Twins Pitcher of the Month: August 2026

The Twins’ pitching staff looks a lot different now than it did a month ago. Minnesota made four additions to its pitching staff around the trade deadline, giving the team a new-look unit as it attempted to make one final push toward the postseason. Unfortunately, those additions weren’t enough to turn the Twins’ season around.

The Twins went just 10-17 in August, and after playing aggressive baseball early in the month, their playoff hopes have continued to dwindle. That certainly wasn’t all on the pitching staff, though. In fact, despite the team’s struggles, there were several awfully strong individual performances throughout August. So with that, here are your Twins Pitchers of the Month for August.

#4: Taylor Rogers
August Stats: 10 G, 10 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 8 K, 6 BB, 4.88 FIP
Taylor Rogers doesn’t strike out as many hitters as he used to, and he certainly isn’t throwing as hard as he once did. But in what was ultimately a down month for the Twins’ pitching staff as a whole, he was still a quality option late in games.

Rogers’s August got off to a sour start, but he finished the month in much better shape. Six of his final seven appearances resulted in zero runs, giving Minnesota a reliable left-handed option as the bullpen continued to search for consistency.

If the Twins still have any shot at making a run toward the postseason over the final month of the season, they’ll need Rogers to continue pitching at a high level. The margin for error is basically gone, meaning every quality inning from the bullpen is going to matter.

#3: Zebby Matthews
August Stats: 5 G, 31 IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 24 K, 6 BB, 3.47 FIP
For the second straight month, there is just one starting pitcher on this list.

Taj Bradley earned that distinction in July, and this month, it belongs to Zebby Matthews. Like Rogers, Matthews actually started August in a tough spot. He allowed seven earned runs across 10 innings over his first two starts of the month, continuing what had been a somewhat inconsistent season for the talented right-hander. But he completely flipped things around from there.

Matthews allowed just three earned runs over his final three starts of August, which collectively spanned 21 innings. That stretch included his sensational 8 1/3-inning performance against the White Sox on Sunday, when he came within two outs of a complete-game shutout while helping the Twins snap a four-game losing streak.

The six walks over 31 innings stand out as well. Matthews always could make hitters uncomfortable when he’s attacking the strike zone, and it’s crazy what can happen when he limits the free passes while also keeping the ball in the yard.

It was a very strong month for the talented right-hander, and if the Twins can get more performances like his final three starts in September, their rotation suddenly looks a whole lot more capable.

#2: Tommy Nance
August Stats: 10 G, 10 1/3 IP, 1.74 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 14 K, 2 BB, 0.96 FIP
Tommy Nance was the Twins’ first addition at the trade deadline, and he has been sensational since arriving in Minnesota.

In August, Nance was even better than his former—and now current again—teammate in Jeff Hoffman. His strikeout rate jumped significantly from where it was in July, and he struck out seven batters for every walk he allowed during the month. You really can’t ask for much more from a seventh-inning reliever.

Nance came to Minnesota without the same level of attention as some of the Twins’ other deadline additions, but his performance has made him one of the more important additions to the bullpen. His ability to miss bats while limiting walks gives the Twins something they desperately need from the middle innings. And unlike some of the other relievers on this roster, Nance is around beyond this season.

If the Twins can continue getting production anywhere close to what Nance gave them during the month, he could end up being an outstanding deadline addition for Minnesota.

#1: A.J. Minter
August Stats: 13 G, 11 2/3 IP, 0.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 9 K, 4 BB, 3.68 FIP
Minter’s August numbers feel fitting for exactly the kind of pitcher he is. He isn’t going to rack up the most gaudy strikeout numbers, and he isn’t necessarily going to be the flashiest reliever in the bullpen. But he is simply a quality, reliable reliever.

When you allow just one run across 11 2/3 innings, it honestly doesn’t matter how you get there. Minter consistently gave the Twins a trustworthy option out of the bullpen throughout August, and he finished the month as the most effective pitcher on Minnesota’s staff.

He's also on an expiring contract and could very well be entering his final—and second—month with the Twins. But just like Rogers, if Minnesota wants to have any chance at making a late push toward the postseason, it needs Minter to continue being a shutdown option late in games.

The Twins might have made things considerably harder on themselves when it comes to the playoff picture, but August still featured some very strong individual pitching performances. Joe Ryan figures to be healthy again soon, the bullpen has several new faces, and there is still plenty of baseball left to be played. The Twins may be running out of time—but as September begins, you never know what can happen.