MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Los Angeles Angels @ Minnesota Twins

MLB Baseball

2026-07-11 - Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Los Angeles Angels @ Minnesota Twins
United States : Major League Baseball
Saturday 11th July 2026 - Scheduled 2:10pm EST
7:10pm (British Time)

---

Preview

A short break is coming up for teams in the Major League, but it will still be important to round out the weekend with some positive momentum. Around three weeks remain until the trade deadline comes around and so it is important to show whether a team should be kept together for a run towards the post-season or whether they should be thinking about 2027 already.

The Los Angeles Angels (38-57) will almost certainly be thinking to next March and how the roster will look when the new season begins, but they did pick up the win in the opening game of this three game series. That makes it two wins in the last three games having previously lost eight in a row, but the Angels remain 10.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West and teams are closing in on the 100 game mark in the regular season.

A win is still a positive moment for the Angels, but it is clear that this series will mean more to the Minnesota Twins (46-49) who are in the midst of a Divisional battle and will also have aims of making the Wild Card into the Playoff at the very least. The Twins had won four in a row before losing consecutive games to fall to 3 games behind the leaders in the American League Central, but they have a pitcher going to the mound who will look to lay a positive foundation for success.

Joe Ryan has a 6-5 record and 2.85 ERA in nineteen starts for Minnesota in 2026 and the 30 year old is looking to put another improved season on the board. He has never had a sub 3.00 ERA, but Ryan is on course to do that if he can maintain the form shown through the first half of the season.

In three of the last four starts, Joe Ryan has not given up a single earned run and that will always give the Twins a chance. Of course errors can be a problem from the fielding support around the pitcher and that was the case when Ryan picked up a decision loss at the end of June, although he bounced back by throwing 7 Innings and keeping the New York Yankees off the scoreboard in the opening start in July.

Joe Ryan is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA in four career starts against the Los Angeles Angels and that will give him confidence.

Los Angeles will counter by handing the ball to Ryan Johnson who has a 1-4 record and 6.99 ERA in eight appearances this season. Five of those have been in starts for the second year pitcher and the Angels may give Ryan Johnson time to show what he can do for the team with next season in mind.

This will be the fifth start in a row for Ryan Johnson and the Angels will take encouragement from the 3.60 ERA produced, even if he has been given little support and put together a 1-3 record. Ryan Johnson lasted 4 Innings in giving up two earned runs and taking the decision loss against the Boston Red Sox in the first start made in July, and he is making his first start against the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins had won five in a row at home against the Los Angeles Angels until Friday evening.

Prediction

There looks to be a significant edge on the starting mound in favour of the Minnesota Twins and they can level up this series with the Los Angeles Angels before both teams conclude the 'first half' of the season on Sunday.

The Pick :

Minnesota Twins 5-2 Los Angeles Angels

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Minnesota Twins to Win at -164 with Bookmaker.eu