Mike Trout is one of several Los Angeles Angels players unhappy about the team's start time for Thursday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Per The Athletic's Sam Blum, the Angels scheduled the start time for the latest possible moment for a getaway game allowed by the collective bargaining agreement at 6:29 p.m. PT.

The Angels' Friday game against the Twins has a 4:40 PT (6:40 CT) first pitch, while their Saturday game has an 11:10 a.m. PT (1:10 CT) first pitch. Per Blum, Los Angeles's management has a reputation around baseball for scheduling getaway games at inopportune times.

Growing up in Lake Forest, Skenes' fandom of the Angels was a defining feature of his childhood. He joked about being the reason for their 2002 World Series win, having been born that year. He named Shohei Ohtani, Trout, Erick Aybar and John Lackey as his favorite Angels players.