MIN Twins[Nick Blackburn] vs LA Angels[C.J. Wilson] match preview

The Los Angeles Angels were pegged by many to get their 2012 season off to a hot start. They're still projected to be serious contenders in the American League, but they dropped their opening series at home to the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. On Monday, they'll head East to take on a team that looked completely hapless in their own opening series, the 0-3 Minnesota Twins.

C.J. Wilson will make his regular-season debut for the Angels and the team will be hoping the bat of Albert Pujols comes to life. The Twins are a far cry from the constant playoff presence they presented in recent years, so this may prove to be a better tune-up for the Halos than the Royals series.


On Monday, Wilson will take the hill against Nick Blackburn, who will also be making his series debut for the Twins. The game will begin at 1:10 p.m. PT and will air on MLB Network and FOX Sports West. You can listen to the radio broadcast on KLAA 830 AM.

The teams will have Tuesday off, but will get back to action on Wednesday. Jered Weaver is fresh off his amazing Opening Day start and the only Angels win of the season and will look to keep his ERA set at zero. Carl Pavano is 0-1 for the Twinkies and was knocked around in his first start. The Angels will look to do just that. The game begins at 5:10 p.m. PT and will air on FOX Sports West. You can listen to the radio broadcast on KLAA 830 AM.

In the series finale on Thursday, Dan Haren will hope to improve greatly on his 0-1 record and 8.44 ERA. He'll be countered with Francisco Liriano, whose 11.25 ERA gives Haren something to be thankful about.