Joe Orrico told listeners to grab Zebby Matthews now, even in shallow redraft leagues, because he expects the right‑hander to be in Minnesota’s rotation within a week. Orrico pointed out that Chris Paddack’s leash is short and the Twins already passed over Matthews once, choosing David Festa, so the next injury or rough Paddack outing should open the door. Matthews has dominated Double‑A: 15 innings, 20 strikeouts, only two walks, a 1.80 ERA and 0.73 WHIP, while popping 99 mph with his fastball. Orrico likes the combination of elite strike‑throwing (career 5% BB rate in the minors) and true swing‑and‑miss heat, noting that the 18 % Yahoo roster rate will spike the moment he’s announced as a call‑up. He framed Matthews as a must‑stash upside arm for anyone needing strikeouts and potential W’s over the next month.

Chris Welsh identified Zebby Matthews as a better potential streaming option over recently promoted David Festa due to the scheduling alignment after Pablo Lopez landed on the injured list. Festa currently holds a high ERA from a shaky minor league start (over 5.00 ERA thus far), causing Welsh to recommend caution in relying on Festa immediately. Welsh explained that Zebby Matthews better aligns with Lopez’s scheduled starts, increasing the likelihood Matthews gets called up early next week rather than Festa being a consistent innings contributor. While the Twins consider a six-man rotation, Zebby’s alignment for potential two-start opportunities next week could provide significant value for fantasy managers, making him a preferable speculative add compared to Festa.

Chris Welsh recommended closely monitoring Zebby Matthews after his recent nine-strikeout AAA performance across five innings. Pablo Lopez suffered a hamstring issue, possibly opening an MLB rotation spot. Welsh praised Matthews' command-focused approach, likening him stylistically to Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan, Twins pitchers known for limiting walks and generating strikeouts. If Matthews gets the promotion, Welsh sees him as an immediate waiver-wire stash and helpful fantasy contributor.