The Los Angeles Angels welcome the Minnesota Twins to Angel Stadium on Thursday, September 17, for a 9:38 PM ET first pitch. Right-hander Walbert Ureña gets the ball for the Halos against Taj Bradley, who starts for Minnesota. With the regular season winding down, every game in this final stretch carries weight for both clubs, making this a matchup worth watching closely — even if the standings tell different stories for each side.

Probable Starters: Walbert Ureña vs. Taj Bradley

Ureña draws the start for Los Angeles in what shapes up as a genuine test for the young arm. The right-hander will need to navigate a Twins lineup that carries some experience and pop, particularly in the middle of the order. Without publicly available ERA or won-loss figures for this outing, the focus shifts to execution: can Ureña attack the zone, limit walks, and give the Angels a chance to win late in the season?

Bradley gets the assignment for Minnesota. He's a pitcher with a live arm, and facing an Angels lineup that leans on a mix of youth and veterans, Bradley will look to establish his fastball early and keep the Halos off-balance. How each starter handles the opposing lineup in the first three innings could set the tone for the entire game.

Angels Lineup to Watch

• Zach Neto (SS, leadoff) — Neto at the top of the order gives the Angels their best on-base option to set the table early.
• Mike Trout (DH, No. 2) — Trout hitting second keeps one of baseball's most recognizable names in prime run-scoring position all night.
• Wade Meckler (LF, No. 3) — Meckler slots into the three-hole, a spot that demands production against a quality starter like Bradley.
• Moisés Ballesteros (1B, cleanup) — The young first baseman hits fourth and represents one of the more intriguing pieces in the Angels' long-term rebuild.
• Denzer Guzman (3B, No. 5) — Guzman's presence in the five-spot gives the lineup an extended look at the Twins' pitching deep into the order.

Twins Lineup to Watch

• Luke Keaschall (RF, leadoff) — A young outfielder opening the game for Minnesota, tasked with getting on base against Ureña.
• Brooks Lee (3B, No. 2) — Lee is a key piece in the Twins' future and one of the more dangerous hitters in the top third of this order.
• Royce Lewis (1B, No. 6) — Lewis's presence in the lineup is always a threat, even batting sixth. Ureña cannot afford to lose focus when Lewis steps in.
• Walker Jenkins (CF, No. 8) — One of Minnesota's top prospects, Jenkins is worth monitoring for how he handles a big-league starter late in the season.

Keys to the Game

• Ureña's command: If he can fill the zone and avoid free passes, the Angels' defense gives them a chance to keep Minnesota off the board early.
• Trout's impact: Batting second with Neto on base ahead of him, Trout is the engine. Any damage he does in his first two at-bats could flip the game's momentum.
• Bullpen management: With no ERA data available for either starter, neither manager can bank on length. Whoever gets to the bullpen in better shape likely wins this one.
• Angel Stadium atmosphere: A late Thursday night at Angel Stadium in September — the crowd may be smaller, but the players who show up to compete will set the tone.

Prediction

This is a genuinely hard game to call with certainty. The Angels have the home advantage and a lineup that, when Trout and Neto are clicking at the top, can do real damage against any starter. Ureña needs to be sharp, and the Angels' depth from Ballesteros through Guzman in the middle of the order has to produce against Bradley. Call it a tight, low-scoring game that comes down to bullpen execution. Angels 4, Twins 3 — Halos take it at home.