Angels at Twins
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels kick off a six-game road trip with a three-game series at Minnesota starting Friday night. The Angels split a four-game series with the A's and head to the Twin Cities in second place in the American League West, where only 2 1/2 games separate first and last place. They'll meet a Twins team that has struggled and finds itself 14 1/2 games back in the American League Central.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports North??
PITCHING MATCHUP: Los Angeles RH Tyler Chatwood (3-2, 4.06 ERA) vs. Minnesota RH Scott Baker (2-3, 4.12 ERA)
Chatwood will seek his second straight win Friday in his first career start against the Twins. He pitched well in his last start against Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings. He has struggled with control this season, with 29 walks in 51 innings pitched.
Baker hasn't won in his last three starts and has a 5.40 ERA in his first four starts this month. Baker has held current Angels hitters to a .247 average, but he's just 1-5 with a 5.01 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels
ABOUT THE ANGELS (26-26): Los Angeles will need players to step up after putting Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with hamstring tightness. The team signed Russell Branyan, who pinch hit in Thursday's game against Oakland and flied out to the warning track to end the game. Branyan's signing means the Angels can keep rookie Mark Trumbo rested to face left-handed pitchers. Trumbo hit a three-run homer Thursday and will be counted on to hit homers for Los Angeles' power-starved lineup.
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ABOUT THE TWINS (16-32): The Twins have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball through the first two months of the season. Minnesota should get a boost in this series with the return of closer Matt Capps and versatile Michael Cuddyer. Capps had been battling tightness in his forearm and Cuddyer had missed two games with a strained right hip. Cuddyer's return will help the struggling Minnesota offense, which ranks last in the majors in scoring.
FINAL PITCH: Minnesota won the season series between the teams last year, marking just the second time since 2002 that the Twins have won the season series.