Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2012 ) Oakland 4, LA Angels 1

Jered Weaver missed his last start with biceps tendinitis and the Los Angeles Angels could use a vintage Weaver performance in Thursday’s series finale against the visiting Oakland Athletics. Weaver won just once in his previous five starts before the Angels pinpointed a possible reason for his decline with the biceps injury. He tossed a four-hit shutout against the Athletics on August 6 before the rough patch. Oakland is looking to complete a four-game sweep.

The Athletics have won six straight games and 15 of 18 and remain three games behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West. Oakland is a season-best 22 games above .500 and leads the wild-card chase. The Athletics have won 12 consecutive road games, tying for second-longest in franchise history and rating as the best streak in the majors since Seattle won 13 straight road contests in 2003. Los Angeles has fallen 3 1/2 games behind the second wild-card spot with the three consecutive home losses. Albert Pujols clubbed his 30th homer on Wednesday to keep the Angels from being blanked. Only Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez (13 apiece) have more consecutive 30-homer campaigns.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (4-0, 0.69 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (16-4, 2.86)

Anderson has been superb since returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. He has given up just two earned runs and 17 hits in 26 innings, striking out 19 and walking three in that span. He is 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in six career starts against the Angels.

Weaver is 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA in three starts against Oakland this season. He is 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 23 career starts against the Athletics. Weaver has allowed 20 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings in the uncharacteristic five-start stretch. He lost to the Seattle Mariners in his last outing when he was fortunate to only give up two runs while allowing eight hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics last swept the Angels in a four-game series at the end of the 2001 campaign.

2. Oakland OF Coco Crisp is batting just .143 in 42 career at-bats against Weaver.

3. Angels OF Torii Hunter is batting .385 with a homer and six RBIs in 13 career at-bats against Anderson.