MLB
9:45 PM EDT
GAME DAY
9:45 PM EDT Oracle Park Game Hub →
Angel Stadium

Where to Watch

Probable Pitchers

Minnesota Twins
Los Angeles Angels

Lineups

Minnesota Twins

#PlayerPos
1Luke KeaschallRF
2Brooks Lee3B
3Kody Clemens2B
4Josh BellDH
5Emmanuel RodriguezLF
6Royce Lewis1B
7Victor CaratiniC
8Walker JenkinsCF
9Ben RossSS

Los Angeles Angels

#PlayerPos
1Zach NetoSS
2Mike TroutDH
3Wade MecklerLF
4Moisés Ballesteros1B
5Denzer Guzman3B
6Josh LoweRF
7Oswald Peraza2B
8Jose SiriCF
9Tyler HeinemanC

Preview

The Minnesota Twins wrap up a West Coast stop at Angel Stadium on Thursday, September 17, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 PM ET. Right-hander Taj Bradley takes the mound for Minnesota against Los Angeles Angels starter Walbert Ureña in a regular season contest that carries late-September weight. The Twins are rolling out a lineup that mixes proven veterans with emerging talent, and how Bradley performs deep into this game could be the defining factor. Catch the action on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive or on WCCO 830 AM back in the Twin Cities.

Probable Starters: Taj Bradley vs. Walbert Ureña

Bradley gets the ball for Minnesota. Acquired from Tampa Bay, the right-hander brings a polished arsenal to the mound and is one of the more intriguing arms the Twins have on their staff this season. He will need to be sharp against an Angels lineup that, despite a tough year in the standings, still features a dangerous name near the top.

Ureña draws the assignment for Los Angeles. The young right-hander is getting a meaningful late-season opportunity to show what he can do at the big-league level. He is an unknown quantity for Minnesota's lineup, which can cut both ways — inexperience sometimes means vulnerability, but it can also mean hitters have limited film to work with.

Minnesota Twins Lineup at Angel Stadium

  • Luke Keaschall, RF
  • Brooks Lee, 3B
  • Kody Clemens, 2B
  • Josh Bell, DH
  • Emmanuel Rodriguez, LF
  • Royce Lewis, 1B
  • Victor Caratini, C
  • Walker Jenkins, CF
  • Ben Ross, SS

Los Angeles Angels Lineup

  • Zach Neto, SS
  • Mike Trout, DH
  • Wade Meckler, LF
  • Moisés Ballesteros, 1B
  • Denzer Guzman, 3B
  • Josh Lowe, RF
  • Oswald Peraza, 2B
  • Jose Siri, CF
  • Tyler Heineman, C

Three Keys to Watch

  • Bradley's command against Trout: Mike Trout batting second in the Angels order means he will see the plate early and often. How Bradley attacks him — and whether he can limit damage when Trout is on base — sets the tone for the whole outing.
  • Royce Lewis in the six hole: Lewis batting sixth is worth monitoring. If the lineup clicks ahead of him and puts runners on base, Lewis has the bat to do real damage against a young pitcher still finding his footing.
  • Walker Jenkins getting reps: The highly regarded prospect Jenkins is hitting eighth in center field. Every plate appearance this late in the season is development time. Watch how he handles a pitcher he likely has not faced much, if at all.

Matchup Outlook and Prediction

This is a road game in a ballpark that plays differently than Target Field, and the Twins are asking Taj Bradley to go out and eat innings on a warm September night in Southern California. The Angels lineup has enough talent to keep things interesting — Trout alone commands respect regardless of where his club sits — but Minnesota's lineup, top to bottom, has the depth to grind out runs against an unproven starter.

If Bradley is sharp through five or six innings and the Twins make Ureña work early in counts, Minnesota has the edge here. Expect a competitive game that stays close into the later innings, with the Twins finding a way to pull it out. Prediction: Twins 4, Angels 2.