Oakland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2012 ) Oakland 9, Chi. White Sox 7

Chicago rallied from a four-run deficit to briefly pull ahead before Oakland surged late for a 9-7 victory, pulling itself back into a tie with Tampa Bay atop the American League wild-card standings. The White Sox, meanwhile, kept hold of a slim one-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central race. Oakland leads the season series against Chicago 3-2, and its 24-10 record since July 1 is the best in the American League.

The key to Oakland’s success has been a pitching staff that ranks fifth in the major leagues in ERA and is second in the AL in runs allowed. Chicago has also gotten solid starting pitching, with Sunday’s starter, Chris Sale, leading the way, but the White Sox also have five players with at least 17 home runs, including Adam Dunn, whose 31 round-trippers tie him for the major league lead.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, CS California (Oakland), CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (9-8, 3.38 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (13-3, 2.59)

Out of the major leagues only two years ago, the resurgent Colon has been solid all season but has been particularly tough in his last three starts, winning three straight while allowing only one unearned run in 20 2/3 innings. The 39-year-old has shown outstanding control, walking no more than one hitter in each of his last eight starts. Colon is 10-7 with a 3.89 ERA in his career against Chicago.

Still one of the leading candidates for the AL Cy Young award, Sale had struggled through a pair of rough starts before settling down to throw eight solid innings against Kansas City on Aug. 6, allowing two runs, eight hits and striking out seven. The first-year starter, who took a no-decision against Oakland on April 25, is 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA in six games against the Athletics, with the other five appearances coming in relief.

WALK-OFFS

1. The surging Athletics have won 10 of their last 13 away games, improving their road record to 27-26 on the season.

2. The White Sox, who beat Colon on April 23, are batting a combined .261 (30-for-115) against Colon. Dunn is 5-for-8 with a home run and three RBIs, while Kevin Youkilis is only 1-for-8 with three strikeouts.

3. Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes was 2-for-3 with an RBI in his lone game against Sale. The rest of the Athletics are a combined 6-for-30 (.200) against the left-hander.