The San Francisco Giants host the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park on Monday, September 21, with first pitch scheduled for 9:45 PM ET. It's a late-season regular season matchup with Blade Tidwell getting the nod for San Francisco against Minnesota's Zebby Matthews. With September in full swing, every game carries real weight for teams still sorting out their standing, and the Giants will be looking to take care of business in front of their home crowd by the Bay.

Probable Pitching Matchup: Blade Tidwell vs. Zebby Matthews

Blade Tidwell draws the start for the Giants. The young right-hander has been one of the more closely watched arms in the San Francisco system as he's worked his way into the rotation, and this late-September start represents a meaningful opportunity. How Tidwell manages the Twins' lineup — a group that can grind at-bats and put pressure on a starter's pitch count — will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

Zebby Matthews gets the ball for Minnesota. Like Tidwell, Matthews is a young pitcher who has been carving out his place in a major league rotation. This is a matchup of two arms who don't have long track records at this level, which makes it genuinely unpredictable — and genuinely interesting. Neither starter comes in with an extensive established ERA or win-loss line to lean on, so execution on the night matters more than reputation.

Keys to Watch at Oracle Park

• Tidwell's command early: Young starters can live or die by their first time through the order. If Tidwell establishes his fastball and keeps walks off the board, the Giants' defense and bullpen give him a real chance to log quality innings.
• Forcing Matthews to work: The Giants do themselves a favor when they make opposing starters throw pitches. Grinding out at-bats, working deep counts, and getting into the Minnesota bullpen early is a proven path to wins at Oracle Park.
• Capitalizing at home: Oracle Park can play as a pitcher's park, but the Giants' lineup knows the dimensions. Getting timely hits rather than swinging for the fences in the cold September air is the formula.
• Bullpen management: With two younger starters on the mound, both managers will need to be ready to move quickly if either arm shows early command issues. The team that gets more reliable bullpen innings likely takes this one.

How to Watch and Listen

The game broadcasts locally on NBC Sports Bay Area (NBCS BA) and on radio via KNBR 680. Spanish-language radio coverage is available on 1510 AM KSFN. Minnesota fans can catch the game on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, WCCO 830, and The Wolf 102.9 FM. The game is also available via the Audacy App.

Prediction

This one hinges on which young starter settles in first. Tidwell pitching at Oracle Park with a home crowd behind him is an advantage the Giants shouldn't waste. The Giants take a close one, 4-2, with the bullpen locking it down in the final two innings. San Francisco wins at home.