The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Minneapolis for a Monday night interleague showdown against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, with first pitch set for 7:40 PM ET on June 22, 2026. Eric Lauer gets the ball for Los Angeles opposite Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews in what shapes up as an intriguing mid-June test for a Dodgers club that is always chasing ground in the standings. Games away from home against a competitive American League opponent matter, and this one is no exception.

Pitching Matchup: Eric Lauer vs. Zebby Matthews

Eric Lauer draws the start for the Dodgers in a role that puts a spotlight on just how deep — and how creatively constructed — this Los Angeles pitching staff has become. A left-hander with a track record of generating soft contact and working through lineups with guile rather than pure velocity, Lauer will need to navigate a Twins order that has legitimate pop throughout. His ability to keep the ball in the yard at Target Field, a park that can play honest in the Minnesota summer air, will be crucial.

On the other side, Zebby Matthews is a young arm the Twins have been developing with real optimism. He represents exactly the kind of pitcher the Dodgers' analytics-driven lineup should be able to work — grinding pitch counts, hunting fastballs early, and not letting a young starter find a rhythm. If Los Angeles is locked in from the first inning, Matthews could be on a short leash.

Minnesota Twins Lineup to Watch

The Twins are rolling out a lineup with a mix of experience and youth. Byron Buxton hits second and remains one of the most dangerous center fielders in baseball when healthy — his speed and power combination can change a game in a single at-bat. Royce Lewis slots in at first base and bats fifth, and he is the kind of middle-of-the-order threat who can make a pitcher pay for any mistake left over the plate. Trevor Larnach leads off from left field, and Brooks Lee mans third base as a younger piece in the Minnesota puzzle.

Keys to the Game for the Dodgers

• Control the Buxton factor early. Byron Buxton in the two-hole is a genuine problem. Lauer cannot let him get on base and create chaos with his legs. Keeping Buxton off the bases sets a tone for the entire game.
• Work Matthews deep into counts. The Dodgers are at their best when they force young starters to throw pitches. Getting Matthews to 80-plus pitches by the fifth inning opens the door to a Minnesota bullpen.
• Protect the road lead if they get one. Dodgers road games in 2026 have shown this team can win away from home, but staying disciplined late in games against a frisky AL lineup is non-negotiable.
• Limit the big inning. With Josh Bell and Royce Lewis in the heart of this order, one crooked number can flip the game fast. Lauer has to pitch with urgency in the third and fourth spots of the lineup.

Prediction

This figures to be a tight, low-scoring game decided in the middle innings. Lauer is a savvy enough lefty to keep the Twins honest, and if the Dodgers offense wakes up early against a pitcher they are seeing for the first time, Los Angeles has the edge. The Dodgers take this one on the road, 4-2, with the bullpen closing it out in the seventh and eighth. Bank on it.