First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV: SDPA / MNNT (Padres.TV / Twins.TV)
This is the series finale of a three-game set at Petco Park. The Padres lead the series 2-0 after a 6-2 win on Friday (Ty France’s multi-RBI night and strong pitching) and a 7-5 comeback victory on Saturday (four-run seventh inning featuring Jake Cronenworth and Ty France). San Diego is fighting for an NL wild-card spot; Minnesota sits just outside the AL wild-card picture.
Starting Pitchers
Minnesota: RHP Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.62 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 71 K in 103.1 IP). Soft-tossing right-hander known for command and inducing weak contact. Recent starts have been mixed (some quality outings mixed with higher run totals). Looking for his eighth win.
San Diego: RHP Walker Buehler (7-6, 4.79 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 104 K in 120.1 IP). Veteran right-hander with the Padres after previous stops; has shown flashes of his former self with better command stretches in August. Also seeking his eighth win.
Current Rosters / Key Players
Twins key contributors: Byron Buxton (OF, power leader), Luke Keaschall (IF, multi-hit production and recent HR), Josh Bell (DH, RBI leader), Ryan Jeffers (C), Kody Clemens (IF), Royce Lewis (IF), Trevor Larnach (OF), Brooks Lee (IF), Kaelen Culpepper (IF). Offense has shown power (three HRs on Saturday) but inconsistency on the road.
Padres key contributors: Fernando Tatis Jr. (OF), Jake Cronenworth (IF), Manny Machado (IF, power leader), Ty France (IF, recent multi-RBI), Jackson Merrill (OF, recent HR and RBI), Luis Rengifo (OF/IF), Xander Bogaerts (IF), Freddy Fermin (C), Luis Campusano (C). Strong home form with timely hitting and speed.
Injury Reports
Twins: Joe Ryan (15-day IL, glute); Austin Martin (10-day IL, hamstring); longer-term absences including Pablo López, Cole Sands, Mike Paredes, Mick Abel, and others (elbow/shoulder). Core lineup (Buxton, Bell, Keaschall, etc.) largely available.
Padres: Casey Mize (day-to-day/ankle sprain after exiting Saturday’s start early); Samad Taylor (10-day IL, oblique); Miguel Andujar (10-day IL, wrist); longer-term absences including Joe Musgrove, Lucas Giolito, Jason Adam, Nick Pivetta, and others (elbow/shoulder). Lineup remains potent with Tatis, Machado, Merrill, and France.
Weather Forecast (Petco Park / San Diego)
Partly cloudy to mostly sunny and mild. Highs around 80–87°F near the coast (warmer inland). Lows in the low-to-mid 70s. Light-to-moderate west winds (5–10 mph, gusts possible). Patchy morning fog possible, clearing. Classic Petco conditions—pitcher-friendly park with marine layer influence that can suppress offense.
Recent Team Forms
Twins (63-67): Lost the first two of this series after a strong prior stretch (swept Atlanta). Offense showed power Saturday but overall road form mixed. Last 10 roughly 4-6.
Padres (70-60): Won two straight and strong overall (hot stretch of 10+ wins in last 13 or so). Excellent at home. Last 10 roughly 7-3.
Series History / Head-to-Head
Padres lead the series 2-0 and have dominated this set. Limited 2026 meetings prior; San Diego’s home dominance and recent form give them the edge. Petco Park typically favors pitching.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Ober (RHP, command/soft contact) vs. Padres power and contact (Tatis, Machado, Merrill, France, Cronenworth). Ober must limit hard contact in a park that rewards precision.
Buehler (RHP, mix of velocity and offspeed) vs. Twins power threats (Buxton, Keaschall, Bell, Lee). Buehler’s ability to work deep and induce weak contact will be key against Minnesota’s recent long-ball ability.
Bullpens: Padres have closed strong (Mason Miller saves); Twins bullpen mixed. Speed (Tatis, Merrill) vs. power (Buxton, Machado). Petco’s dimensions and weather lean toward lower scoring.
Betting Trends
Padres strong at home as favorites and in series sweeps; Twins competitive as underdogs but struggling on the road in this set. Petco totals often stay under; both starters have similar ERAs.
Game Odds
Minnesota Twins 8.5
San Diego Padres – 136
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, August 22, 2026
