First pitch: approximately 9:05 p.m. ET / 6:05 p.m. local
Venue: Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California (temporary home of the Athletics)
This is the series finale. The Twins took the opener 9-6 on Monday behind strong pitching and offense (including contributions from Josh Bell and Kaelen Culpepper). The Athletics responded with a 4-2 win on Tuesday (Carlos Cortes homer, Gage Jump’s nine strikeouts). Minnesota sits third in the AL Central and remains on the fringe of the wild-card picture. The Athletics are last in the AL West with a significantly weaker overall record.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Twins: LHP Connor Prielipp (3-7, 5.57 ERA, 1.40 WHIP in 93.2 IP with 101 strikeouts). The young left-hander has shown strikeout upside but has struggled with consistency and a high ERA, particularly in recent outings. He previously performed solidly in a matchup against this Athletics club.
Athletics: RHP J.T. Ginn (8-8, 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP in 132.1 IP with 118 strikeouts). One of the more reliable arms on the Athletics staff this season, capable of working deep into games with solid command and strikeout ability.
Current Weather Forecast (West Sacramento / Sutter Health Park)
Sunny to mostly sunny and hot. Highs around 97–98°F (or slightly higher). Lows overnight in the mid-to-upper 60s. Light winds (around 5–10 mph, often from the west/southwest). Very low precipitation chance. Typical Central Valley late-summer heat; expect a warm evening for first pitch.
Injury Reports
Twins: Byron Buxton (day-to-day, exited Tuesday with apparent hip issue after chasing a triple), Austin Martin (hamstring, 10-day IL), Joe Ryan (glute, 15-day IL), plus longer-term absences including Pablo López, David Festa, Mike Paredes, Mick Abel, Cole Sands, and others on the 60-day IL. Rotation and outfield depth are affected.
Athletics: Shea Langeliers (knee, 10-day), José Suarez (hip, 15-day), plus numerous longer-term absences including Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, Nick Kurtz, Luis Severino, Denzel Clarke, and others on the 60-day IL. Lineup and pitching depth remain heavily depleted.
Key Current Roster Contributors
Twins: Byron Buxton (when healthy; speed and power), Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Josh Bell, Kaelen Culpepper (hot recent bat), Kody Clemens, Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach, Luke Keaschall, and supporting pieces. Offense showed life in the series opener.
Athletics: Lawrence Butler, Zack Gelof, Carlos Cortes (recent power), Tommy White, Henry Bolte, Alika Williams, Donovan Walton, Jeff McNeil, and others filling roles amid injuries. Capable of manufacturing runs in spurts.
Recent Team Forms
Twins (split first two games of series; ~4-6 recent overall): Competitive but inconsistent. Strong individual performances (Matthews on Monday, Bradley’s strikeouts Tuesday) mixed with offensive lulls. Still fighting for relevance.
Athletics (W1 after Monday loss; poor season-long form but capable of home wins): Have shown fight at times but overall record reflects significant struggles and injury issues. Home mark is weak.
Series History
Twins won Monday 9-6; Athletics won Tuesday 4-2. Earlier 2026 meetings were competitive. The temporary Sacramento venue has produced mixed results this series, with both pitching and late offense factoring in.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Connor Prielipp vs. Athletics lineup: Left-handed pitching against a depleted but opportunistic order featuring Butler, Gelof, Cortes, and White. Prielipp’s strikeout ability is a strength, but his elevated ERA means early control and limiting hard contact will be critical.
J.T. Ginn vs. Twins lineup: Solid form against Buxton (if available), Lewis, Jeffers, Culpepper, and Bell. Ginn’s ability to work deep and keep the ball in the park will be tested by Minnesota’s power potential.
Bullpens: Both sides are managing injuries; late-inning execution decided the first two games.
Offense trends: Twins have more overall talent when healthy; Athletics rely on timely hitting and home-run potential in a warm environment.
Betting Trends
Trends favor the superior Twins roster against a struggling Athletics club, tempered by Prielipp’s recent form versus Ginn’s steadier numbers.
Game Odds
Minnesota Twins – 138
Athletics 10
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, August 25, 2026
