Tampa Bay @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 8, Oakland 0
The Tampa Bay Rays' pitching staff is clicking on all cylinders. The Oakland Athletics have one last chance to break through as the playoff hopefuls square off in the rubber game of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon. Tampa Bay posted its third shutout in four games on Tuesday and has allowed a total of seven runs over its last five contests. The Rays will be concluding their nine-game road trip, during which they are 5-3.
Oakland, which trails Texas by 3 1/2 games in the American League West, fell one-half game behind the Los Angeles Angels for the first wild-card spot in the AL and saw Tampa Bay climb within 2 1/2 games of the second berth as it was limited to three hits by James Shields on Tuesday. The loss was the Athletics' fifth in 24 games in July and fourth in 17 contests since the All-Star break.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (4-8, 4.93 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (7-4, 3.38)
Cobb has lost three consecutive starts and five of his last six. The 24-year-old, who has yielded three runs or less in each of his last four outings, surrendered three runs in seven innings of a road loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Cobb lost his only career start against Oakland, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings on Aug. 6, 2011.
Parker, who has won five of his last six decisions, was fortunate to escape Baltimore with a no-decision on Friday after surrendering six runs over five innings. It marked the third time in four outings the 23-year-old yielded at least four runs. Parker will be making his 10th start of the year at home, where he is 3-2 with a 2.28 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics have struck out 32 times over the first two games of the series.
2. Tampa Bay scored eight runs Tuesday after collecting a total of nine over its previous four games.
3. Oakland CF Coco Crisp has missed three games with a strained left hamstring.