THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD
Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500ESPN
RHP Scott Baker (2-3, 4.12 ERA) vs. RHP Taylor Chatwood (3-2, 4.06)
Saturday, 6:10 p.m. • Ch. 9, 1500ESPN
LHP Francisco Liriano (3-5, 5.73) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (6-4, 2.35)
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500ESPN
RHP Carl Pavano (2-4, 5.28) vs. RHP Dan Haren (4-3, 2.24)
TWINS UPDATE
As expected, the Twins promoted righthander Jim Hoey to take Kevin Slowey's roster spot. Slowey, put on the disabled list Wednesday because of a strained abdomen, will be rehabbing in Fort Myers, Fla., beginning Saturday. Hoey is 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA in 10 games with the Twins this year and 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in eight games for Class AAA Rochester. He made four scoreless appearances with eight strikeouts in five innings after his last demotion. Minor league director Jim Rantz said Hoey's split-fingered fastball is becoming a good weapon to go with his fastball. ... Baker is 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in his past three starts, but before that, he was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts and seemed to be in a groove.
ANGELS UPDATE
The AL West has been a tight four-team battle, and the Angels are hanging right in the mix. Their streak of three consecutive division titles ended last year, when they finished third with an 80-82 record. With Kendry Morales out for the season and Howie Kendrick put on the disabled list Thursday, the Angels signed Russell Branyan, who was waived by the Diamondbacks this week after batting .210 with one homer and two RBI in 69 plate appearances. ... Torii Hunter heated up just in time to face his former team. In his past seven games, he has batted .360 (9-for-25) with two homers and eight RBI, raising his season average from .218 to .236.
JOE CHRISTENSEN
