San Diego Padres vs. Minnesota Twins: Your Complete Game Day Guide (August 23, 2026)

Game Time: Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 4:10 PM ET
Matchup: San Diego Padres (70-60) vs. Minnesota Twins (63-67)
Series Situation: Padres looking to complete a three-game sweep!

How to Watch the Game

Whether you’re at home or on the go, here are your viewing options:

• TV Broadcast: Check your local sports network listings
• Streaming: Available through MLB.tv (subscription required) and partner platforms
• Radio: Local team radio networks will carry the play-by-play

Pro Tip: Game times can sometimes change due to weather or scheduling, so double-check 30 minutes before first pitch!

Betting Odds Made Simple

New to sports betting? Think of it like this: the "favorite" is the team expected to win, and the "underdog" is the team expected to lose. The numbers tell you how much you’d win on a $100 bet.

Important: Betting involves risk. Only bet what you can afford to lose. Odds provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply.

Injury Reports: Who’s In, Who’s Out

San Diego Padres

10-Day Injured List (Short-term):

• Miguel Andujar – Wrist injury
• Samad Taylor – Oblique strain

15-Day Injured List:

• Lucas Giolito – Elbow issue

60-Day Injured List (Season-long/serious):

• Jason Adam – Shoulder
• Joe Musgrove – Elbow
• Bryan Hoeing – Elbow
• Ramon Laureano – Hip
• Nick Pivetta – Elbow

Day-to-Day (Could play Sunday):

• Casey Mize – Ankle (monitor closely!)

Minnesota Twins

10-Day Injured List:

• Austin Martin – Hamstring

15-Day Injured List:

• Joe Ryan – Glute injury

60-Day Injured List:

• Pablo Lopez – Elbow
• David Festa – Shoulder
• Cole Sands – Elbow
• Mike Paredes – Oblique
• Anthony Banda – Lat muscle
• Mick Abel – Elbow

Key Takeaway: Both teams are missing multiple pitchers! The Padres have 5 pitchers on the 60-day IL, while the Twins have 4. This means you’ll see lots of bullpen games and younger arms getting opportunities.

Starting Pitchers: The Duel on the Mound

Walker Buehler – San Diego Padres

• Record: 7-6
• ERA: 4.79 (Earned Run Average – lower is better)
• What this means: Buehler has had an up-and-down season. An ERA near 5.00 means he allows about 5 runs per 9 innings. He’ll need to be sharp against a Twins lineup that can hit home runs.

Bailey Ober – Minnesota Twins

• Record: 7-4
• ERA: 4.62
• What this means: Slightly better ERA than Buehler. Ober has been more consistent this year. He throws strikes and keeps the ball in the park – crucial in a hitter-friendly ballpark.

Matchup Insight: Two right-handers with similar ERAs. This could be a pitchers’ duel OR a high-scoring affair depending on which version shows up!

Players to Watch: The Stars of the Show

San Diego Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. The Electric Superstar

• Home Runs: 15 | RBIs: 63 | Runs Scored: 73
• Batting Average: .285 (gets a hit ~28.5% of the time)
• On-Base %: .357 (reaches base ~35.7% of the time)
• Slugging %: .438 (hits for power)
• Speed Demon: 28 stolen bases in 41 attempts! (68% success rate)
• Plate Discipline: 9.6% walk rate, 18.4% strikeout rate

ELI5: Tatis is a "5-tool player" – he hits for average, hits for power, runs fast, fields well, and throws hard. He’s the guy you buy a ticket to watch!

Manny Machado The Power Bat

• Home Runs: 24 (team high!) | RBIs: 72 | Runs: 65
• Batting Average: .216 (struggling for average this year)
• On-Base %: .302 | Slugging %: .411
• Plate Discipline: 11.1% walk rate, 21.8% strikeout rate

Note: Machado’s average is low, but he still hits 24 homers and drives in 72 runs. He’s an "all-or-nothing" hitter right now – boom or bust!

Minnesota Twins

Brooks Lee The Rising Star

• Home Runs: 19 | RBIs: 68 | Runs: 56
• Batting Average: .247 | On-Base %: .301 | Slugging %: .428
• OPS: .729 (On-base Plus Slugging – combined measure)
• Plate Discipline: 6.7% walk rate, 16.3% strikeout rate
• Speed: 7 steals in 11 attempts

Why He Matters: Lee is having a solid rookie season with 19 homers. He makes contact (low strikeout rate) but doesn’t walk much. A player to watch for years to come!

Josh Bell The RBI Machine

• Home Runs: 17 | RBIs: 77 (16th in ALL of MLB!) | Runs: 65
• Batting Average: .254 | On-Base %: .320 | Slugging %: .426
• Plate Discipline: 8.3% walk rate, 20.7% strikeout rate

Key Stat: 77 RBIs = 16th in Major League Baseball! Bell drives in runs. When runners are on base, he delivers. Simple as that.

Team Context: Where They Stand

What’s at Stake: The Padres are playing for October baseball. Every win matters for their Wild Card hopes. The Twins are playing for pride, development, and 2027 momentum.

5 Things to Watch For During the Game

1. Pitch Counts – Both starters have ERA’s near 4.70. Will managers pull them early?
2. Bullpen Usage – With so many injured pitchers, watch which relievers get high-leverage innings
3. Tatis on Basepaths – 28 steals! Will he run on Ober?
4. Home Run Derby? – Both lineups have power (Machado 24 HR, Lee 19 HR, Bell 17 HR, Tatis 15 HR)
5. Casey Mize Status – Day-to-day ankle. If he can’t go, Padres rotation gets thinner

Summary: What You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does "ERA" mean and why is 4.79 not great?

ERA = Earned Run Average. It’s the average number of runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings. 4.79 means ~5 runs per game. In modern baseball, under 3.50 is elite, 3.50-4.00 is good, 4.00-4.50 is average, over 4.50 is below average. Both starters are having below-average years.

2. What’s the difference between the 10-day, 15-day, and 60-day IL?

• 10-Day IL: Minor injuries, player can return quickly
• 15-Day IL: Moderate injuries, few weeks out
• 60-Day IL: Serious injuries, usually season-ending. Key difference: 60-day IL opens a 40-man roster spot for a replacement.

3. Why are there so many pitchers on the 60-day IL?

Pitching injuries (especially elbows/shoulders) are at epidemic levels in MLB. Throwing 100mph repeatedly destroys arms. Both teams have lost multiple starters and relievers to Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction) and shoulder issues.

4. What does "OPS" mean for Brooks Lee (.729)?

OPS = On-base Plus Slugging. It combines how often you reach base (.301) with how much power you have (.428). .729 is solid for a rookie – league average is usually around .700-.730. Above .800 is All-Star level, .900+ is MVP territory.

5. Can the Twins still make the playoffs at 63-67?

Technically yes, realistically no. They’re 4 games under .500 in August. They’d need to go ~25-7 the rest of the way AND get help. They’re playing for next year – evaluating young players (like Lee!), building culture, and staying healthy.

6. What does "sweep" mean in baseball?

Winning all games in a series. This is a 3-game series. Padres won Games 1 & 2. Winning Game 3 = sweep. It’s a statement win!

Final Thought

This game has everything: Playoff implications for San Diego, young stars showcasing skills for Minnesota, two struggling aces trying to right the ship, and depleted pitching staffs forcing creative managing. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just learning the game – grab some peanuts, cracker jack, and enjoy America’s pastime!

Game guide created using data from The Athletic/Data Skrive. Betting odds provided by partners – restrictions apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.