Toronto @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2014 ) Toronto 2, Oakland 4

Josh Donaldson provided plenty of power in the heart of the Athletics’ order over his final two seasons in Oakland, finishing in the top 10 in the American League MVP voting in 2013 and 2014. He’ll return to O.co Coliseum for the first time since the late November trade that sent him to Toronto on Tuesday when the Blue Jays open a three-game set against the Athletics.

Donaldson spent the first four years of his big-league career with Oakland, breaking out with 24 home runs and 93 RBIs in 2013 before topping both marks with 29 and 98 last season. The two-time All-Star third baseman is well on his way to shattering both of those career-best totals in his first season with Toronto, clubbing 22 home runs and driving in 62 while batting ahead of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the Blue Jays’ order. Toronto opened the second half with a much-needed series win at home against Tampa Bay and will face the Athletics, who have won four of five. Oakland came out of the break with a 5-0 home loss against Minnesota before winning in 10 innings on Saturday and routing the Twins 14-1 on Sunday to take the series.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (10-5, 3.34 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (6-5, 3.38)
Buehrle reached the 10-win mark for the 15th straight season – the longest streak among active players – on July 11, yielding two runs and five hits in seven frames en route to a 6-2 victory at Kansas City. The five-time All-Star, who extended his streak of giving up two or fewer earned runs to eight outings, has posted a 4-2 record and 1.55 ERA over that span. Billy Butler is 22-for-67 with three homers and 17 RBIs against Buehrle, who is 8-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 32 appearances (28 starts) versus the Athletics.
Graveman, who was one of four players the Athletics received in return for Donaldson, saw his three-start winning streak snapped in a July 10 loss at Cleveland after surrendering four runs over 5 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Alabama native was masterful in his two previous outings (both at home), allowing five hits across seven scoreless frames both times while defeating Seattle and Colorado. Graveman, who is 5-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 10 turns since enduring a rocky April, will draw his first career start against his former club.

WALK-OFFS
1. LF Jake Smolinski, who hit two of his Oakland’s season-high five homers in Sunday’s rout of Minnesota, is 5-for-9 in four games since his recall from the minors on July 8.
2. Only the Athletics (9-22) have more one-run losses than Toronto (10-19).
3. Bob Melvin earned his 386th win as the Athletics’ manager on Sunday, tying him with Ken Macha for third most in team history behind Tony La Russa (798) and Art Howe (600).

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Athletics 2