Angels at Twins
With Albert Pujols’ season-long homerless drought finally over, the Angels are eager to move forward as they begin a six-game road trip in Minnesota. After going his first 110 at-bats without a home run, Pujols hit a two-run shot Sunday to help the Angels beat Toronto and wrap up a 5-2 homestand. The Angels are hoping for similar results from shortstop Erick Aybar, who’s batting .206 after going 3-for-24 (.125) in his last seven games.
After losing 11 of their last 13 games, the Twins are shaking things up prior to their nine-game homestand. Brian Dozier is being promoted from Triple-A Rochester to step in as the team’s starting shortstop, with Jamey Carroll sharing time with Alexi Casilla at second base and Danny Valencia at third. Minnesota is also calling up Scott Diamond to replace Liam Hendriks in the starting rotation after Hendriks posted a 9.00 ERA and 1.89 WHIP over his four starts.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSW (Los Angeles), FSN (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (4-0, 1.61 ERA) vs. Twins LH Francisco Liriano (0-4, 9.97 ERA)
Weaver threw 121 pitches against the Twins on Wednesday in the first
solo no-hitter at Angel Stadium since 1975, and he’s looking to become
the first major league pitcher since Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 to
record no-hitters in two consecutive starts. Weaver has an impressive
0.78 WHIP through his first six starts.
Liriano’s awful start continued last Tuesday against the Angels when he gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Liriano, who hasn’t pitched past the sixth inning in any of his five starts, is 1-3 with a 7.48 ERA is five career starts (six appearances) against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Angels closer Scott Downs left Sunday’s game in the ninth inning with a left knee injury.
2. The Twins placed Justin Morneau on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a sore left wrist.
3. Minnesota’s starting pitchers have a record of 4-16, and their four wins are the fewest in the majors.