The Minnesota Twins head to Angel Stadium to face the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, September 18, 2026, with first pitch set for 9:38 PM ET. Connor Prielipp gets the ball for Minnesota opposite Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. With the regular season winding down, every game in September carries weight for a Twins club looking to close out 2026 on a strong note. This is a late West Coast start, so Twins fans tuning in on WCCO 830 AM or Twins.TV Presented by Progressive will need to stay up — but late-night baseball in Anaheim is worth it.
Probable Pitchers: Connor Prielipp vs. Grayson Rodriguez
Connor Prielipp draws the start for the Twins in this one. The young left-hander has been one of the more intriguing pieces of Minnesota's pitching picture this season. Starting assignments at this stage of a September schedule often double as evaluation opportunities, and Prielipp's performance against an Angels lineup will offer a clear read on where he stands heading into the offseason.
On the other side, Grayson Rodriguez takes the hill for Los Angeles. Rodriguez has the kind of arm that demands respect — a power pitcher capable of putting up dominant stretches. The Twins' lineup will need to work counts early and force Rodriguez to throw pitches in the zone. Getting into the Angels' bullpen is a legitimate game plan against a starter of his caliber.
Keys to Watch for the Minnesota Twins
- Prielipp's command: If Prielipp can establish his fastball and keep the Angels off the bases early, Minnesota has a chance to keep this game close through the middle innings. Walks and free passes on the road in September are unforgiving.
- Disciplined at-bats against Rodriguez: Rodriguez can overpower hitters when he's locked in. The Twins need patient at-bats, foul off tough pitches, and look for mistakes in the strike zone rather than chasing his secondary stuff.
- Bullpen management: Depending on how deep Prielipp can go, Minnesota's relief corps will likely play a significant role. How the Twins navigate their late-inning options could determine the outcome just as much as the starting pitching matchup.
- Capitalizing on opportunities: Angel Stadium has seen plenty of Twins visits over the years. Scoring first and playing with a lead is the cleanest path to a road win against any opponent.
Prediction
This matchup leans toward the pitchers in the early going. Rodriguez is a legitimate challenge for any lineup, but the Twins have enough offensive capability to string together a crooked number if they stay patient. The variable here is Prielipp — if he gives Minnesota five competitive innings, the bullpen can handle the rest. Expect a tight game that comes down to the middle innings. Twins take this one 4-3 in a low-scoring road win that keeps their September push moving in the right direction.
