Angels at Twins
The Angels’ signing of Albert Pujols has gotten the majority of attention, but their other big offseason addition has the potential to make just as much, if not more, impact. C.J. Wilson, who signed a five-year, $77.5 million deal, will make his Los Angeles debut against the Twins in the first of a three-game series at Target Field. The left-hander spent the previous seven seasons with the Rangers, where he compiled a 31-15 record over the last two.
Los Angeles lost two of three against the Royals in its opening series, while the Twins were swept by Baltimore to open 0-3 for the first time since 1981. Minnesota, which finished with the AL’s worst record last year at 63-99, were outscored 15-5 in the series. The Angels went 6-3 against the Twins last year.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Net (Minnesota), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (2011: 16-7, 2.94 ERA) vs. Twins RH Nick Blackburn (2011: 7-10, 4.49 ERA)
While the Angels think Wilson has the potential to be a staff ace, he’s slotted fourth in the rotation behind Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana. Wilson spent his first five seasons in the bullpen before transitioning to a full-time starter in 2010. In 22 appearances — five starts — against the Twins, he’s 2-3 with a 4.73 ERA and has issued 25 walks in 51 1/3 innings.
Blackburn hopes that his regular-season debut will pan out similarly to the way it did in 2010, when he led the Twins to a 5-3 road win against the Angels. After a pair of promising seasons in 2008 and 2009, the right-hander has regressed the last two, posting a 17-22 record and 4.98 ERA. In his four years as a starter, he’s never produced a winning record.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Pujols went 3-for-10 with an RBI in the opening series.
2. Minnesota didn’t record its first hit in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Baltimore until the eighth inning, and none of its runs in the series came during the first seven innings.
3. The Twins are one of only five winless teams and already trail the Tigers by three games in the AL Central.