ALCS

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Anaheim (Appier 14-12) at Minnesota (Mays 4-8), 7:19 p.m. (Fox)

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Anaheim (Ortiz 15-9) at Minnesota (Reed 15-7),7:19 p.m. (Fox or Fox Sports Net)

Friday, Oct. 11

Minnesota (Radke 9-5) at Anaheim (Washburn 18-6), 7:19 p.m. (Fox)

Saturday, Oct. 12

Minnesota (Milton 13-9) at Anaheim (Lackey 9-4), 6:50 p.m. (Fox)

Sunday, Oct. 13

Minnesota at Anaheim, 3:50 p.m., if necessary (Fox)

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Anaheim at Minnesota, 7:20 p.m., if necessary (Fox)

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Anaheim at Minnesota, 7:20 p.m., if necessary (Fox)

What to

watch for

Season Series: Minnesota 5-4.

Watch For

-- Two-strike hits. The Angels were the hardest team to strike out in the majors this season and they were even tougher against the Yankees. Anaheim fanned just 18 times in the four games and had an unbelievable .361 average in 61 at-bats with two strikes.

-- Little ball. These teams are not typical AL bashers -- neither club had a player hit more than 30 home runs. Instead, they like to hit-and-run, bunt, take extra bases on balls in the dirt, and be patient at the plate. The team that does the little things best will have a big edge.

-- Frankie's Fire. Rodriguez, a 20-year-old rookie who made his major league debut in September, earned his first two career wins against the Yankees. His electric arm could be a key in the late innings as Scioscia tries to bridge the gap between his starters and Percival.

-- Homer Hankies. The Metrodome might be the toughest -- and loudest -- place to play in the playoffs. Twins are 12-2 at home in their past three trips to the postseason.

Notebook

Mays ready to rebound from rocky division series start

By DAVE CAMPBELL

AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mays is getting a second chance in Game 1 of the AL championship series.

The loser in the Minnesota Twins' 9-1 loss to Oakland in Game 2 of the division series, Mays will start Tuesday night at the Metrodome against Anaheim's Kevin Appier.

"I love throwing at the Dome," Mays said. "This is where I wanted to get back, get an opportunity to throw here in front of the home crowd. Back to the familiar territory."

Three rough starts into the season, Mays was disabled with inflammation around his right elbow and didn't return until July.

He's showed signs of his old self over the past two months, but he ended up 4-8 with a 5.38 ERA. Then in his playoff debut, the 26-year-old was rocked for nine hits and six runs in 3 2-3 innings last week.

"If I get back to throwing the way I usually do," Mays said, "keeping the sinker down, changing speeds by getting ahead of guys, I'm going to have a little bit of success."

It's that eagerness that may have gotten him in trouble in the first place. Easily the most excitable member of Minnesota's starting rotation, Mays might've been a little too pumped up.

"I think it's just the makeup of his personality," pitching coach Rick Anderson said.