Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2012 ) Oakland 3, LA Angels 1

The Oakland Athletics have risen to their highest level in six years as they look to beat the host Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday for the second straight night in a pivotal four-game series. Oakland is 20 games above .500 for the first time since the 2006 regular-season ended and has a solid chance of reaching the postseason for the initial time since that season. The Angels have won 11 of 13 and had a six-game winning streak snapped Monday.

Oakland has won 13 of its last 16 contests is only three games behind the American League West-leading Texas Rangers. The Athletics, who lead the wild-card chase, are 54-25 since June 12. Los Angeles is 1 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot. The Angels are 6 1/2 games behind the Rangers. Los Angeles touched up Oakland starter Dan Straily for four homers on Aug. 8. Kendrys Morales took Straily deep twice and Torii Hunter and Chris Iannetta also hit homers. Straily is starting in the spot of Brandon McCarthy, who was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Angels shortstop Erick Aybar on Wednesday.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Straily (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (6-7, 4.59)

The 23-year-old Straily makes his fourth major-league start and first since Aug. 16. That last big-league outing was a strong one as Straily blanked the Kansas City Royals on three hits over 6 1/3 innings to claim his first major-league victory. He wasn’t involved in the decision in the August outing against the Angels after allowing five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Williams is making his first start since July 19. He was pulled from the rotation after losing five consecutive starts just prior to the Angels acquiring Zack Greinke from the Milwaukee Brewers. Williams is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in two 2012 appearances (one start) against Oakland. He is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels ace Jered Weaver (biceps tendinitis) had a solid bullpen session Monday and is slated to return to the rotation Thursday after missing one start.

2. Athletics 1B-OF Brandon Moss hit the go-ahead homer in Monday’s game and has nine homers in 79 road at-bats.

3. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout went 1-for-3 in the opener to raise his average to .197 in 19 career games against Oakland.