Oakland @ Kansas City preview

Oakland at Kansas City

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2012 ) Oakland 2, Kansas City 3

The Kansas City Royals attempt to complete a sweep of the Oakland Athletics when the clubs meet in the finale of their three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday. Kansas City, which has held Oakland to two runs over the first two games of the set, has recorded a trio of three-game sweeps thus far this season - all at home. The Royals also took a two-game series against Texas on the road.

Kansas City has won six of its last eight contests and is 2-0-1 over its last three series. Wednesday's loss was Oakland's fourth in five games. The club did not lose ground in the standings, however, as it trails Texas by six games in the American League West and is 1 1/2 behind Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot. The Athletics are 5-8 this month after posting a 19-5 record in July.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Dan Straily (0-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luke Hochevar (7-10, 5.32)

Straily will be making his third career start. The 23-year-old was impressive in his major-league debut against Toronto on Aug. 3, allowing just one run and five hits over six innings but coming away without a decision. Straily was ineffective versus the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 8, however, as he surrendered five runs on eight hits - four homers - in just 4 2/3 frames.

Hochevar is coming off a loss at Baltimore on Friday during which he was tagged for seven runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old has won only once in his last six starts despite allowing three earned runs or less four times in that span. Hochevar fell to 0-7 lifetime against Oakland when he yielded six runs over 4 2/3 frames in a loss on June 2.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland OF Josh Reddick sat out Wednesday's loss as his recovery from a tooth extraction has not gone well.

2. Kansas City has gone 17-8 in one-run games since losing its first five of the season.

3. The Athletics lead the major leagues with 13 walk-off wins, two shy of the team record.