Preview for Friday, September 18, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels
Minnesota Twins head to Los Angeles to face the Angels in a matchup scheduled to start at 9:38 PM ET, with Connor Prielipp taking the mound for the Twins and Grayson Rodriguez starting for the Angels. Prielipp has thrown approximately 113.3 innings with an ERA of 5.24 and a WP-calculated FIP of 3.96, suggesting his underlying performance has been considerably better than his run-prevention results so far. Rodriguez has worked about 87.0 innings with an ERA of 6.10 and a FIP of 4.96, both of which sit worse than Prielipp's marks, pointing to the Twins holding the edge in the starting pitching matchup.
Looking at the team-wide numbers, the Twins carry a WP-estimated wOBA of 0.313 compared to the Angels' 0.298, giving Minnesota the better offensive profile of the two clubs. On the run-prevention side, the Angels post a team FIP of 4.15 and ERA of 4.20, both lower than the Twins' team FIP of 4.35 and ERA of 4.67, which favors Los Angeles when it comes to overall pitching depth beyond the starters. That creates a split picture, with Minnesota holding an offensive advantage and Los Angeles showing better team-wide run prevention.
Several roster notes are on record for this game. Mick Abel, Anthony Banda, and Eduardo Beltre of the Twins are listed on the 60-Day IL, 15-Day IL, and 60-Day IL respectively, while Nacho Alvarez, Gustavo Campero, and Rio Foster of the Angels are listed on the 60-Day IL, 10-Day IL, and 60-Day IL respectively. Weighing the starting pitching, where Prielipp's FIP and ERA both come in lower than Rodriguez's, alongside the Twins' better team wOBA, the available figures lean toward Minnesota, even though the Angels' team ERA and FIP figures remain the more favorable marks on that side of the ledger.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Angels +1.5. Confidence: Slight Lean.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Angels: Mike Trout. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for Twins: Ryan Jeffers. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.