Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2012 ) Oakland 3, Cleveland 0

Having vaulted into a tie for the wild card lead in the American League, the Oakland Athletics will continue their playoff push in the second of their four-game series with the reeling Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. Oakland has won nine of 11 games following its 3-0 series-opening victory and moved past Tampa Bay and into a tie with Baltimore atop the wild card heap. Losing Bartolo Colon to a 50-game suspension was costly, but Brett McCarthy has softened the blow with consecutive stellar outings.

Grant Balfour has helped sort out the Athletics' muddled bullpen situation. In his last eight appearances, he has eight saves while allowing one run and one hit. Cleveland's issues run much deeper. The Indians have lost 11 of 12 and their offense is a disaster, accumulating a total of 11 runs in the last eight games. Shelley Duncan is among those struggling mightily, batting .109 (5-for-46) in August. Slumping Asdrubal Cabrera should return to the lienup after a night off.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Tommy Milone (10-9, 3.87 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (5-4, 3.50)

Milone halted a three-game losing streak with a sensational effort last time out, limiting the Minnesota Twins to one run on two hits in eight innings. He had earned a no-decision against Cleveland in his previous start, giving up four runs on seven hits in only five innings. Milone has struggled away from home in his rookie season, logging a 4-6 mark and 5.77 ERA in 12 starts.

McAllister did not factor in the decision last time out despite a strong performance in which he held Seattle to one run on three hits in six innings. He also received a no-decision in a matchup against Oakland and Milone on Aug. 17, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings. He could not find a way to retire Josh Donaldson, who went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland has won the last five meetings between the clubs.

2. The Athletics have not been 13 games above .500 since the end of the 2006 season.

3. Indians RHP Roberto Hernandez (the former Fausto Carmona) suffered a sprained right ankle Monday. It's unclear if he'll be available for his next start.