Cleveland @ Oakland preview

Cleveland at Oakland

Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2012 ) Cleveland 1, Oakland 5

The Oakland Athletics continue their quest for a playoff berth Friday as they host the Cleveland Indians in the opener of their three-game series. Oakland salvaged the finale of its three-game set at Kansas City with a 3-0 triumph on Thursday as rookie Dan Straily notched his first career victory. With the win, the Athletics remained 1 1/2 games behind Baltimore and Tampa Bay for a wild-card spot in the American League.

Oakland, which returns home following a disappointing 2-4 road trip, takes on a Cleveland team that has lost 15 of its last 19 contests. The Indians kicked off their nine-game road trip with a victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday before allowing 17 runs over the final two games of the series - both losses. However, Cleveland won two of three in Oakland from April 20-22.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach McAllister (5-4, 3.46 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Tommy Milone (9-9, 3.91)

McAllister halted a personal three-game losing streak Sunday against Boston as he allowed two runs and three hits over eight innings. The 24-year-old rookie has not surrendered more than four earned runs in any of his 13 starts this season. McAllister, who is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA on the road, will be facing Oakland for the first time.

Milone will be starting for the first time since Aug. 5, when he was tagged for six runs over six innings by Toronto en route to his third straight loss. The 25-year-old has given up 16 earned runs over his last three outings after yielding only five over his previous six starts. Milone, who has gone 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 home outings, has yet to pitch against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland struck out 11 times on Thursday, marking the fifth time in six games it has been been fanned at least 10 times.

2. Indians RHP Cody Allen has yet to allow a run in 12 1/3 major-league innings, matching the longest stretch to start a career by a Cleveland reliever set in 1984 by Tom Waddell.

3. Athletics OF Josh Reddick returned to action as the designated hitter after sitting out Wednesday's loss with a tooth ailment.