Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels Picks and Predictions April 26th 2025

Twins Face New Challenge Without Luke Keaschall vs. Angels

Injuries continue to impact the Minnesota Twins‘ season, with rising star Luke Keaschall now sidelined after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right forearm during Friday’s 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The setback comes just as the rookie was making a dynamic entrance into Major League Baseball, reaching base 13 times with five stolen bases in his first six games.

According to MLB Pipeline, Keaschall is ranked the No. 57 overall prospect and third in the Twins’ organization. His injury, sustained when he was hit by a pitch in the first inning, will keep him out for an extended period.

“Obviously that’s tough news,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “He’s settling in really well here and doing a really nice job for us. He’ll get it right and he’ll be back.”

Despite the blow, Minnesota’s offense exploded on Friday night. Trevor Larnach and Byron Buxton combined for seven RBIs, while leadoff hitter Edouard Julien showcased incredible discipline with four walks and three runs scored.

“If your leadoff hitter is just on base for the guys behind him to bring him around, you’re going to score a ton of runs,” Baldelli added.

Twins Turn to Woods Richardson to Maintain Momentum

On Saturday, the Twins will send Simeon Woods Richardson (1-2, 4.74 ERA) to the mound. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings during a bullpen game against the Atlanta Braves last weekend and will now make his first career appearance against the Angels.

While Woods Richardson continues to seek consistency, his growth offers Minnesota a glimmer of hope amid their injury challenges. Check out the Best Sports Handicappers Leaderboard for 2025 for reliable sports betting picks and in-depth handicapper performance data.

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Angels Counter with a Steady Yusei Kikuchi

The Angels will respond with Yusei Kikuchi (0-3, 3.38 ERA), who has pitched effectively despite his winless record. In his last two outings, Kikuchi allowed only one earned run, including a 5 1/3-inning gem against the San Francisco Giants.

Historically, Kikuchi has performed well against Minnesota, boasting a 3.12 ERA over six career starts.

Angels’ Offense Searching for Answers

The Angels have now dropped four of their last six games, struggling to replicate their early-season offensive success. Although Mike Trout provided a spark with his ninth home run on Friday, and Logan O’Hoppe added his seventh, the broader lineup has faltered.

Infielder Kyren Paris illustrates the team’s slump perfectly: after hitting five home runs in his first 10 games, he is now hitless in his last 21 at-bats.

“We’re in the midst of what I think every team goes through,” Angels hitting coach Johnny Washington said. “We’ve got to grind through this storm. The process is good, but the results haven’t followed.”

The Angels struck out 10 times on Friday, further highlighting the need for an offensive reset.

Key Storylines to Watch

Conclusion: Both Teams at a Crossroads

Both the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels face pivotal moments early in the season. Minnesota must adapt quickly without a key young infielder, while Los Angeles needs to solve its sudden scoring issues.

As the teams clash again on Saturday, expect a tightly contested battle between resilience and rising urgency.