The Angels plan to activate right-hander Alex Cobb from the injured list on Thursday so that he can start Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Twins. Fellow right-hander Griffin Canning will start Game 2.

Cobb has been out since May 4 with a blister but will return to make his sixth start of the season. He¡¯s posted a 5.48 ERA this season but has strong peripheral stats, as he's struck out 31, walked 10 and allowed just one homer in 21 1/3 innings.

¡°He¡¯s not going to be on a limit but it¡¯s more of a watch it kind of thing,¡± manager Joe Maddon said. ¡°He¡¯s been throwing great in-between. His finger is feeling much better. But it¡¯s one of those things you have to watch. I have pre-existing notions going into it about him being held back. Just go pitch. Because he can be very pitch efficient if everything is working with his command.¡±

Canning has been pitching well recently, posting a 1.59 ERA over his last three starts with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings. It's helped him lower his ERA to 4.78 in seven games (six starts) this season.

"I think the fastball command has gotten better and everything is playing off it," Maddon said. "The slider has been good and the changeup has been really good. The fastball has been playing up and the velocity has been higher. He's just pitching well."

Gosselin faring well in utility role
Utility man Phil Gosselin has been a pleasant surprise for the Angels this season, as he's hitting .293/.341/.390 with four doubles and three RBIs in 13 games, entering Wednesday. He's also shown off versatility defensively, as he's played third base, second base, first base and left field.

¡°I struggled a lot in Spring Training and couldn¡¯t find my timing but the alternate site was good for me,¡± Gosselin said. ¡°I got a ton of at-bats and was able to play every day. And I¡¯ve been able to play almost every day up here, so the consistency of the at-bats has definitely helped. I¡¯m just trying to contribute any way I can.¡±

Maddon has been impressed by Gosselin offensively and believes he has sneaky power. Gosselin, 32, is a career .263/.315/.363 hitter in 372 games over nine seasons with the Braves, D-backs, Pirates, Rangers, Reds, Phillies and Angels.

"As soon as we acquired him, Larry Bowa called me immediately and gave me a great account and talked about his bat and how good of a hitter he was," Maddon said. "The guy hits the ball hard. I don't know what the sheets and the exit velocity say, but I know what my eyes tell me. He hits the ball hard and it has a different sound when he hits it."

Angels tidbits
? Second baseman David Fletcher returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hip injury. Fletcher batted ninth, as he¡¯s been moved out of the leadoff spot in the shortterm until he gets it going offensively.

• The Angels selected the contract of lefty Dillon Peters and optioned right-hander Jaime Barria before Wednesday¡¯s game. Barria was sent down after throwing four scoreless innings in relief on Tuesday, as he wouldn't be available to pitch for several days. Peters gives the Angels some length out of the bullpen but had a 9.90 ERA in two starts at Triple-A Salt Lake.

• Reliever Junior Guerra, who has been out since May 10 with a strained right groin, has been throwing without any issues and is nearing a return. He¡¯s eligible to be reinstated on Friday but Maddon didn¡¯t have a specific target date yet.

• Reliever Chris Rodriguez threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, as he¡¯s continuing his throwing program after dealing with right shoulder inflammation since May 6. Rodriguez is likely to be out for a few more weeks.