The San Francisco Giants host the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park on Tuesday, September 22, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM PT. Anthony Molina takes the hill for San Francisco opposite Minnesota's Taj Bradley in what shapes up as an intriguing late-season pitching matchup. With September in full swing and roster spots expanded, this is precisely the kind of game where young arms get tested and lineups run deep. Giants fans tuning in on NBCS BA or KNBR 680 will want to pay close attention to how both starters handle the September pressure.
Probable Starters: Anthony Molina vs. Taj Bradley
Anthony Molina draws the start for the Giants. Molina is a name that Giants fans should be tracking closely — opportunities like this one at Oracle Park, in front of a home crowd late in the regular season, are the moments that define roster decisions heading into the offseason. The organization will be watching how he commands the strike zone and manages a Twins lineup that can make pitchers work.
Taj Bradley gets the nod for Minnesota. Bradley has shown flashes of genuine stuff during his time in the majors, and he's the type of arm that can keep a Giants lineup off-balance if his secondary pitches are landing. San Francisco's hitters will need to be patient early, work counts, and avoid getting themselves out on pitches outside the zone.
Keys to Watch for the Giants
- Molina's command: Without established big-league statistics to lean on, the Giants need Molina to throw strikes and trust his defense behind him. Walks will kill an outing fast at this level.
- Patience at the plate: Bradley has the kind of arm that rewards impatient hitters. The Giants' best chance is to grind at-bats and get into the Minnesota bullpen early.
- Home environment: Oracle Park in September has a particular energy. The Giants need to feed off the crowd and play with urgency, even in a regular season game that may feel like a bridge to the offseason for some.
- Defense and fundamentals: Late-season games like this one often hinge on the small stuff — making routine plays, running the bases intelligently, and not handing the opponent extra outs.
Broadcast Information
Tuesday's game can be seen on NBC Sports Bay Area (NBCS BA) and heard locally on KNBR 680 AM and 1510 AM KSFN (Spanish language). Twins fans can catch the action on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, WCCO 830, and The Wolf 102.9 FM. The game is also available on the Audacy App.
Prediction
This one comes down to who can establish early control. Molina pitching at Oracle Park is an opportunity, not a guarantee — the Twins aren't going to hand anything over. But home-field comfort and a crowd behind him gives Molina a real edge. If he can get through five innings without taking on significant damage, the Giants' bullpen can hold this game long enough for the offense to do its job against a Minnesota relief corps that will eventually be tested. Giants win a close one, 4-2.
