New York @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2012 ) NY Yankees 3, Oakland 4

The Yankees have set the world on fire lately, coming into this weekend’s four-game series with a 30-11 mark since the end of May. They have built a sizable cushion in the American League East during that time, relegating the rest of their division rivals to wild-card contention. Oakland, meanwhile, has quietly joined the postseason chase by winning 10 of its first 12 July games. The Athletics were swept by New York earlier this season, dropping three straight home games in late May.

New York has been its usual hard-hitting self offensively, leading the major leagues in home runs and ranking third in runs scored. That production has been supplemented by a pitching staff that has performed above expectations despite some key injuries. Oakland has been carried almost completely by its pitchers, who lead the American League in ERA and opponent batting average.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Comcast Sports (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (10-4, 4.18 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Tommy Milone (9-6, 3.54)

Nova went 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA in five June starts but has been hit or miss in July, giving up six runs in each of his two losses while posting a solid road win against Boston in between (6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER). He has fared particularly well on the road this season, going 7-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts, including a victory in Oakland on May 25 (7 IP, 3 ER).

Milone has recovered nicely from a couple of bad road starts in early June, going 3-1 in his last five starts while allowing just five earned runs in 34 innings. He took a tough 2-0 defeat against the Yankees on May 27, giving up just two runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. Milone has been nearly untouchable at home, going 5-1 with a 1.03 ERA in his seven starts in Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York has fared well with Nova on the mound, winning 37 of his last 52 starts overall and 20 of his last 26 on the road.

2. Only nine American League starters have received more run support this season than Nova, who leads the Yankee rotation at 7.5 runs per nine innings.

3. Oakland hitters are a combined 6-for-28 (.214) against Nova. 1B Daric Barton (2-for-3) is the only player with more than one hit, and OF Josh Reddick (1-for-5) has the lone home run.