The Minnesota Twins head to Angel Stadium for a Thursday night matchup against the Los Angeles Angels, with first pitch set for 9:38 PM ET. Taj Bradley gets the ball for Minnesota against Angels right-hander Walbert Ureña in what shapes up as a late-season regular season contest with playoff positioning still very much in play. Twins fans can catch the action on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive or listen in on WCCO 830 or The Wolf 102.9 FM.
Probable Starters: Taj Bradley vs. Walbert Ureña
Taj Bradley takes the mound for the Twins in what is one of the more interesting pitching assignments of the stretch run. The right-hander has been one of Minnesota's key rotation pieces this season, and his ability to generate swing-and-miss stuff will be tested on the road against an Angels lineup that plays its home games in the warm California air of Anaheim. How Bradley manages his pitch mix and keeps hitters off-balance will go a long way toward setting the tone for the entire ballgame.
On the other side, the Angels counter with Walbert Ureña. The Twins will need to do their homework against the young arm and look to work counts early, get on base, and let their offense build momentum as the game progresses. Minnesota's lineup has shown it can do damage against pitchers they haven't seen frequently, so getting quality at-bats from the top of the order will be critical.
Keys to Watch for the Twins at Angel Stadium
- Bradley's command: The ability to locate pitches on both sides of the plate — particularly against right-handed bats — will determine how deep into the game Bradley can go and how much stress he puts on the Twins bullpen.
- Early offense: Minnesota needs to put pressure on Ureña quickly. Working deep into counts, taking walks, and stringing hits together before the Angels can turn to their relief corps is the recipe for a road win.
- Bullpen management: With the regular season winding down, how Minnesota's manager deploys the relief arms behind Bradley carries real weight. Every game in September matters, and fresh arms late in close games could be the difference.
- Road focus: Angel Stadium is a hitter-friendly environment. The Twins defense will need to be sharp, and the pitching staff must minimize free passes that can quickly become crooked numbers on the road scoreboard.
Prediction
This is a game Minnesota should be motivated to win. Taj Bradley has the stuff to keep the Angels lineup in check through five or six innings, and if the Twins offense can get to Ureña in the early going, the road lineup should have enough in the tank to pull this one out. The Twins offense does the work early, Bradley goes six solid, and Minnesota picks up a road win. Twins 5, Angels 3.
