GameThread: Twins @ Angels, Game 98

First Pitch: 2:35 pm CST

TV: FSN

Radio: 96.3 KTWIN, TIBN

Know Thine Enemy: Halos Heaven

The Twins have put together a solid past week or so of baseball, having won 6 of their last 7 games spanning back to July 13th. However, they face a steep challenge in sweeping the Los Angeles Angels today as they have to face Jered Weaver. As if batting against the ace of the Angels staff wasn't hard enough, you may also remember that the last time Weaver faced the Twins, he tossed a no-hitter. But don't worry, Doug Bernier isn't fazed by that.

Weaver has seen his already-poor velocity deteriorate even more this season, although it's not quite into Livan Hernandez territory yet. His "fastball" is now averaging less than 87 MPH, but his offspeed pitches (slider, curveball, and change-up) all get good movement and with his deceptive delivery where he severely steps across his body, combined with the day game and that rock structure in left-center field means that the Twins may have a difficult time seeing the ball today.

The Twins counter with Mike Pelfrey, who looks like he's finally found himself this season. In his last three starts, he has pitched 17 2/3 innings with 5 ER, 6 BB and 12 K (2.54 ERA). Equally as promising is that his fastball velocity is starting to pick up, as he was around 91 MPH at the beginning of the season but has added 1 MPH to his fastball since May 21st, so it's possible that Pelfrey is rounding himself into a trade candidate.

Pelfrey's repertoire is mainly a steady diet of 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs, as they equate to about 70% of his pitches thrown. He also mixes in a mid-80s cutter, mid-70s curveball and a mid-80s splitter.

By the way, today's game is MLB.tv's Free Game, so those of you that live out-of-market but have an MLB.com account can watch the game online for no cost.

Twins

1. Clete Thomas, LF
2. Doug Bernier, 2B
3. Justin Morneau, DH
4. Ryan Doumit, C
5. Chris Herrmann, RF
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Chris Colabello, 1B
8. Aaron Hicks, CF
9. Pedro Florimon, SS

SP Mike Pelfrey

Angels

SP Jered Weaver