Minnesota @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Oakland 9, Minnesota 4

The Oakland Athletics keep flying below the radar despite being very much in the American League playoff race. With four straight wins on their current streak, the A’s have put up big offensive numbers to go with their stellar pitching. Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Cespedes and Coco Crisp took turns playing hero over the weekend. The Minnesota Twins, who visit Oakland on Monday, have averaged 2.2 runs in dropping five straight.

Oakland is one-half game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot in the AL and five back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Last in the majors in team batting average entering the weekend, the A’s piled up 21 runs in a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians. The Twins have lost five of nine and have drifted to 20 games under .500 (50-70). The offense went 3-for-28 with runners in scoring position while suffering through a three-game sweep in Seattle. Minnesota has scored more than three runs only three times in the last 10 games.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Brian Duensing (2-8, 4.69 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Brandon McCarthy (6-4, 2.68)

Duensing has been knocked around for 16 runs (11 earned) and 29 hits in 19 innings over his last three starts. The 29-year-old has spent most of his time in the bullpen this season and is just 1-6 with a 6.34 ERA as a starter. Duensing got a start against Oakland on July 15 and was battered for six runs on seven hits in two innings. Jonny Gomes, Cespedes and Chris Carter each homered off the right-hander. Duensing is 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA in seven career games - three starts - against the A’s.

McCarthy is winless in two starts since coming off the disabled list but was solid in his last outing, allowing three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings at Kansas City. The right-hander did not walk a batter in that turn and has issued only 20 free passes in 90 2/3 total innings. McCarthy has never lost to Minnesota, going 2-0 with a 2.43 ERA in nine career games - four starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Denard Span (shoulder) has missed the last six games and has yet to take live batting practice. He'll likely miss a few more games.

2. Oakland RHP A.J. Griffin (shoulder) threw a bullpen session and could be activated off the DL on Monday.

3. Minnesota C Joe Mauer is a career .325 hitter in 28 career games in Oakland.