Los Angeles @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2013 ) Minnesota 0, LA Angels 1
The Los Angeles Angels begin their 10-game road trip Monday with a one-day stop in Minnesota to face the Twins. Los Angeles, which has won 12 of its last 16 contests, finally is making up the game that was postponed on April 17. The Angels were extremely successful on their last trek, winning the final four games to finish at 8-1 on the nine-game trip.
Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak snapped Sunday as it dropped a 4-3 decision to the Texas Rangers in the finale of their three-game set. Minnesota looks to halt their losing streak, which was extended to four games when the Toronto Blue Jays posted a 2-0 triumph Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. The Twins have lost a franchise record-tying 10 consecutive home games and 12 of the last 13 in their own ballpark.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (9-8, 3.33 ERA) vs. Twins LH Pedro Hernandez (3-1, 5.19)
Weaver pitched well against Tampa Bay on Wednesday but suffered the loss after serving up a pair of home runs to Rays rookie Wil Myers that accounted for all three of the runs he allowed over seven innings. The 30-year-old won each of his last two road starts, yielding a total of one run in 14 frames. Weaver improved to 8-2 lifetime against Minnesota on July 24, when he scattered two hits and struck out nine over eight scoreless innings.
Hernandez returned to the Twins' rotation Tuesday and impressed, allowing two runs over six innings in a no-decision at Houston. The 24-year-old Venezuelan spent more than two months in the minors before being recalled when Samuel Deduno went down with soreness in his pitching shoulder. Hernandez, who never has faced the Angels, is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in five games - three starts - at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins franchise also lost 10 in a row at home from Sept. 15-29, 1957, when it was known as the Washington Senators.
2. Angels 3B Luis Jimenez sat out Sunday with a right thumb contusion suffered the previous night.
3. Minnesota recalled seven players from Triple-A Rochester after Sunday's loss, including OF Chris Parmelee and LHP Scott Diamond.
PREDICTION: Angels 4, Twins 1