Minnesota @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) Minnesota 6, LA Angels 10
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels got within 3 1/2 games of first-place Texas in the American League West with Saturday's 10-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The Angels look to improve to 2-1 on their nine-game homestand when they take on the Twins in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday. Los Angeles has won just four of its last nine contests while Minnesota has lost 12 of 16 and 21 of 28.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kevin Slowey (0-3, 5.91 ERA) vs. Angels RH Joel Pineiro (5-6, 5.33 ERA).
Slowey will be making his fourth start of the season. He allowed 11 runs in 10 1/3 innings over his first two outings before limiting the White Sox to two runs over seven frames in a loss at Chicago on Monday. Slowey is 3-2 with a 4.80 ERA in seven career starts against Minnesota.
Pineiro is winless since defeating the Seattle Mariners on July 9. The veteran settled for a no-decision at Seattle on Monday after yielding three runs over six innings. Pineiro is 2-8 lifetime against Minnesota and has lost four straight decisions to the Twins since posting a victory on May 1, 2006.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (75-64): Ace Jered Weaver's struggles continued Saturday. Despite notching the victory, Weaver allowed at least five runs for the third time in four starts. A number of Angels have had success against Slowey over their careers. Vernon Wells is 6-for-14 (.429) with a home run and five RBIs, while Bobby Abreu and Alberto Callaspo are both 6-for-15 (.400). Rookie Mark Trumbo's first career grand slam on Saturday was Los Angeles' second of the season. Wells belted the first against Baltimore on July 22. Bobby Abreu did not play Saturday, ending his run of at least 150 games played at
13 straight seasons. Abreu needed to appear in each of the Angels' final 24 contests to surpass Willie Mays for the major league record for most consecutive 150-game campaigns.
ABOUT THE TWINS (58-80): Joe Mauer missed his second straight game Saturday with an upper respiratory infection. The Angels are hoping he misses another as he is hitting .682 (15-for-22) lifetime against Pineiro. Lefthander Francisco Liriano met with Los Angeles team physician Lewis Yocum on Saturday to get a second opinion on his strained left shoulder. Liriano was told to just continue with his rehab.
FINAL PITCH: Minnesota received some encouraging news Saturday as the results of Justin Morneau's baseline testing for his concussion-like symptoms showed he is making good progress. Morneau, who originally suffered a concussion in July 2010, began experiencing the symptoms last Sunday and has yet to return to the lineup.