Twins at Angels
Two of this month’s hottest hitters square off again Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels continue their four-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins. The Angels’ Justin Upton has homered in four straight contests while Minnesota’s Eddie Rosario kept pace with two solo blasts in Friday’s 5-4 come-from behind victory.
Upton has five homers in his last six contests and is 9-for-26 during his six-game hitting streak for the Angels, who led 4-2 on Friday before the Twins evened the series with three runs in the ninth. “I think Justin is real comfortable in the box,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. “I think he’s seeing the ball well. All the things you talk about that add up to a good at-bat or squaring the ball up, he’s doing.” The same could be said for Rosario, who is 23-for-60 over his last 14 games and has homered in five of his last 10 contests. Twins second baseman Brian Dozier homered in Friday’s win and has seven hits in his last 12 at-bats, while center fielder Byron Buxton is hitless in five at-bats since coming off the disabled list Thursday.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.49 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.42)
Gibson received a no-decision in his third straight start last Sunday, allowing three runs with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. The 30-year-old native of Indiana has allowed four earned runs with 24 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings across his last three outings. Ian Kinsler is 14-for-42 with two homers against Gibson, who owns a 2-2 record and 5.32 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels.
Tropeano is expected to come off the disabled list on Saturday to make his first start since May 1, when he pitched scoreless one-hit ball into the seventh inning, retiring 13 of his final 14 batters. The 27-year-old missed two starts with right shoulder inflammation but threw two successful bullpen sessions this week. Tropeano owns a 1.35 ERA in two career games versus Minnesota and is 3-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 career starts at Angel Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels are 17-10 in their last 27 home games against the Twins.
2. Minnesota OF Max Kepler was held out of the starting lineup Friday due to a bruised left hand but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.
3. Angels RHP Shohei Ohtani is expected to start Sunday’s series finale.