Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2015 ) Oakland 1, Cleveland 5

Sterling pitching has paved the way for the surging Cleveland Indians, who have allowed four runs and 21 hits during their four-game winning streak while limiting foes to two runs or fewer on nine occasions in their last 12 contests. The Indians look for more of the same when they continue their three-game series versus the visiting Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Cleveland's hitting hasn't been too shabby either, as Michael Brantley slapped a two-run single in the 5-1 victory on Friday and improved to 7-for-16 with five runs scored in the last four contests. Carlos Santana has also been heating up after a rough stretch, going 7-for-16 in his last five games following a brutal 3-for-28 slump. Speaking of slumps, Oakland mustered only five hits on Friday en route to dropping its third in a row and has scored just 42 runs over its last 14 outings (5-9). Josh Reddick went 0-for-4 in the series opener and is 3-for-18 in his last six games, but he's 3-for-3 with a homer in his career versus Saturday starter Carlos Carrasco.

TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (0-2, 2.95 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (10-7, 4.17)

With Jesse Hahn sidelined by an ailing right elbow, Bassitt is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Nashville in time for Saturday's start. The 26-year-old has pitched well in a pair of spot starts for Sonny Gray, but he was saddled with the loss in a pair of 2-1 setbacks. After allowing one run on five hits in five innings against Colorado on June 30, Bassitt yielded two runs in 5 2/3 frames in the hard-luck loss to Seattle five days later.

After coming within one strike of a no-hitter in his previous outing, Carrasco was ripped for five runs on 10 hits in four innings in a 9-4 setback to Houston on Monday. The disappointing result notwithstanding, the 28-year-old Venezuelan is 6-3 in his last nine starts. Carrasco has sputtered at home, posting a 4-5 mark with a 5.11 ERA while allowing the opposition to bat .303 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 5-for-12 with a homer and three RBIs in his last three games.

2. Oakland 2B Ben Zobrist ripped a double in the ninth inning in the series opener to snap an 0-for-15 stretch.

3. Indians 2B Jason Kipnis is just 3-for-27 during his last eight contests.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Athletics 1