Angels Visit Target Field Looking to Spoil Twins' Playoff Push
Minnesota enters Sunday's 2:10 PM ET matinee at Target Field sitting two games below .500 at 47-49, with every home win carrying real weight in a crowded AL wild-card picture. Los Angeles, meanwhile, trudges in at 38-58 — a team playing out the string, but dangerous enough to wreck someone else's afternoon.
The pitching matchup sets an interesting table. Jose Soriano is expected to start for the Angels, while Taj Bradley is set to take the mound for Minnesota. Neither assignment is guaranteed until first pitch, but if it holds, this figures to be a game decided by which lineup can do the most damage early. The Angels don't have the record to inspire confidence, but they're not without weapons. Zach Neto leads the club with 19 home runs — real pop for a team that hasn't had much to celebrate — and Jo Adell has driven in 53 runs to pace the offense. Nolan Schanuel's .272 average gives the Angels a contact option at the top of the order. This isn't a lineup you dismiss.
For Minnesota, the offensive profile is headlined by Josh Bell, who leads the Twins with 60 RBI — a legitimate run-producer who can change a game in a single at-bat. Kody Clemens has added 16 home runs, giving the Twins legitimate over-the-fence threat beyond their top of the order. Luke Keaschall is hitting .254, providing a steadier contact floor in the lineup. On paper, the Twins have the more complete offense, and home field at Target Field is a real advantage they'll need to leverage.
As for a model read — there isn't one for this game. No validated projection is available, so we're not going to manufacture a lean out of thin air. What we can say is this: the records tell a clear story about where these franchises are headed in 2026, but a 20-game gap in the standings doesn't always translate to a 20-run gap on a Sunday afternoon. The Angels have enough individual talent to make Bradley work, and if Soriano is sharp early, Minnesota's lineup could find itself in an uncomfortable game. Watch Bell and Neto — whoever gets the bigger moment today likely decides this one.