The Los Angeles Angels (65-85) take one of the weakest lineups in the league on the road to face the Minnesota Twins (73-77) at Target Field on Friday for the first of a three-game series. The Angels are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They won only one out of three in their last series against the Rangers, dropping the finale 5-3 on Thursday at Globe Life Field. Mike Trout was 1 for 4 with a double, one run, and two RBIs. The Twins are playing the first of six games at home after concluding a rough eight-game road trip (1-7). They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Royals, dropping the finale 4-1 on Thursday at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium for their fourth straight loss.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Angels have won two of three in the season series between the teams, including a 4-2 victory in their most recent meeting on August 14 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Starter Tucker Davidson went six innings to get the win, giving up two runs on four hits, and Jose Quijada earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Shohei Ohtani (13-8, 2.43 ERA) is slated for the start for Los Angeles. The right-hander ranks fourth in the AL in strikeouts (196) and tied for fifth in wins. Ohtani threw seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 2-1 road win over the Mariners on Saturday. He was credited with the win, scattering three hits while striking out eight and walking one.
AT THE PLATE
The Los Angeles offense is averaging 3.8 runs per game for the season, fifth lowest in MLB, with a slash line of .229/.294/.387. Ohtani leads the team in OPS at .892. He is slashing .270/.358/.534 with 34 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 85 runs over 145 games. Minnesota is slashing .248/.317/.404 for the season and averaging 4.3 runs per game. Carlos Correa leads the team with ann .835 OPS. The shortstop has 21 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 66 runs scored with a slash line of .289/.366/.469. Minnesota is averaging only 2.8 runs per game in the last five with their slugging percentage slipping to .333. The Twins have a .727 OPS against righties in 2022. With a .820 OPS over 407 at-bats, Luis Arraez has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Los Angeles is 31-44 in road games in 2022, scoring 3.6 runs per game while allowing 4.1 runs. Minnesota has won three in a row at their home park. The Twins are 43-32 at home this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.9. In the last 10 games between the teams at Target Field, Los Angeles is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 4.1-3.6.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Angels are third in the AL West, 33 games behind the division-leading Astros. The Twins are third in the AL Central, nine games behind the Guardians. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, eight games out of a postseason position.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Los Angeles Angels
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
