Cleveland @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2012 ) Cleveland 5, Oakland 8

The Oakland Athletics are stepping over the ashes of the Cleveland Indians’ season as they continue to chase a playoff berth in the American League. The Athletics clinched a series win over the Indians with an 8-5 victory Saturday and have taken three straight overall to stay within one-half game of the second wild card spot. Cleveland has lost four in a row and 17 of 21 to stumble from contention to afterthought.

Oakland got a home run and three RBIs from Yoenis Cespedes on Saturday as the rookie slugger continues to produce. Cespedes has an extra-base hit in three straight games and is batting a team-high .306. The Athletics still rely heavily on pitching but have gotten enough from Cespedes and Josh Reddick to strike some fear in opposing pitchers. The Indians have gotten no pitching lately, surrendering an average of 7.8 runs during their four-game slide. The Indians are 1-4 on their nine-game west coast road trip can’t look forward to a homestand, either, with the New York Yankees, Oakland and the Texas Rangers set to invade Progressive Field over the next few weeks.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), CS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (9-10, 4.50 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (7-7, 3.71)

Masterson has been one of few bright spots for Cleveland of late, winning each of his last two starts while allowing a total of two runs in 13 innings. The right-hander shut out the Los Angeles Angels over six innings Monday to earn a win. Masterson struggled with his control at Oakland on April 22, issuing six walks to go along with four runs and six hits in five innings. He served up a two-run homer to Seth Smith in that loss and is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in eight career games - four starts - against the Athletics.

Parker may be hitting a wall in his rookie season. The 23-year-old is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA over his last four starts and lasted only 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Kansas City on Tuesday. Parker has been better at home, owning a 3-4 record with a 2.75 ERA in 11 starts in Oakland. He has never faced the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland 3B Josh Donaldson has six hits in two games against the Indians after entering the series with a .167 batting average.

2. Cleveland RF Shin-Soo Choo homered in a two-hit game on Saturday to break out of an 0-for-17 drought.

3. Athletics RHP Grant Balfour picked up his second straight save Saturday and has not been scored upon in 17 of his last 18 appearances.