Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) LA Angels 7, Oakland 1

The two hottest teams in the American League open a high-stakes, four-game series when the Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland Athletics. The Angels have won six straight and 11 of 12 games and just swept three games from the Athletics in Oakland last week. The Athletics have captured 12 of 15 games with the losses to the Angels being their only defeats since August 23. Both teams still trail Texas in the American League West race.

Oakland just swept a three-game set in Seattle and has won nine consecutive road games. The Athletics are 3 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the West and possess a 2 1/2-game cushion in the AL wild-card race. The Angels outscored Oakland 21-5 in last week’s contest and sit six games behind Texas. Los Angeles is a season-best 14 games over .500 and is one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the AL’s second wild-card spot. The Angels are 8-7 against Oakland entering the final four meetings of the regular season between the teams.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (9-8, 3.67 ERA) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (10-10, 4.46)

Parker is 0-2 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts against the Angels this season. He lost to Los Angeles on Tuesday despite allowing just two runs and eight hits in seven innings. Parker has fanned 19 and walked just two in 20 2/3 innings against the Angels. He is 5-3 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 road starts.

Haren has won back-to-back outings, including a victory over Oakland on Wednesday when he gave up one run and three hits in six innings. He is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this season. Haren is 3-3 with a 3.51 ERA in nine career starts against Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels INF Maicer Izturis is expected to miss the entire series with a back ailment.

2. Oakland OF Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer in Sunday’s victory and is batting .301 with eight homers since the All-Star break.

3. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout is 4-for-10 against Parker, but teammates Torii Hunter (1-for-8, five strikeouts) and Mark Trumbo (four strikeouts in six hitless at-bats) have struggled.