The Los Angeles Angels host the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium on Thursday, September 17, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 PM ET. Walbert Ureña gets the ball for the Halos against Minnesota's Taj Bradley in a late-season regular season contest that carries real weight for both clubs as September winds down. Watch locally on ABTV presented by Pechanga Resort Casino, or catch the radio call on KLAA 830.
Probable Starters: Walbert Ureña vs. Taj Bradley
The Angels turn to Walbert Ureña, a young arm who will need to command the strike zone and keep Minnesota's lineup off balance to give Los Angeles a quality start. Late-season outings like this one are where young pitchers either build momentum heading into the offseason or leave questions unanswered — Ureña has a chance to make a statement at home in Anaheim.
On the other side, the Twins send right-hander Taj Bradley to the mound. Bradley is a pitcher with legitimate stuff, and he will test the Angels' offense from the first pitch. The Angels' hitters will need to be patient and work counts if they want to get to the Twins' bullpen early.
Keys to Watch for the Angels
- Ureña's command: Walks and free baserunners against a disciplined Minnesota lineup can snowball quickly. Ureña's ability to throw strikes early in counts will go a long way in determining how long he stays in this game.
- Run support: The Angels' offense needs to back their starter. Quality at-bats against Bradley — working deep counts, making contact with runners on — are the difference-maker in games like this.
- Bullpen depth: In a September game with roster expanded, manager usage out of the pen becomes a chess match. How the Angels manage their relievers in the late innings could decide the outcome if this one stays close into the seventh or eighth.
- Home crowd energy: Angel Stadium in September carries its own atmosphere. The Halos have an opportunity to feed off their home crowd and close out the week strong.
Matchup Breakdown: Angels vs. Twins
Minnesota is a franchise built on pitching depth and contact-oriented at-bats, and they do not beat themselves. The Twins will put pressure on the Angels' defense and force Ureña to work. Los Angeles, for their part, needs to be the aggressors — passive approaches against quality pitching like Bradley rarely pay off.
This is a game where execution at the margins matters. A clean inning from Ureña, a timely two-out hit from the Angels' lineup, a shutdown inning from the pen — those are the moments that tilt late-season games in your favor.
Prediction
Give the edge to the Angels at home. Angel Stadium provides a familiar backdrop for the Halos, and Ureña has the opportunity to reward the home faithful with a competitive outing. If the offense can get to Bradley in the middle innings, Los Angeles has enough to win this one. Angels 4, Twins 3.
