Baltimore @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2012 ) Baltimore 2, Oakland 3

The Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles are both in the playoffs if the season ended today. Neither team is satisfied with its current positioning, however. The Athletics struck first in their three-game set with the Orioles on Friday to increase their grip on the top wild card spot to two games. The 3-2 setback was a wasted opportunity for Baltimore, which would have taken over sole possession of first place in the American League East with a win.

As it stands, the Orioles and the New York Yankees remain tied for the lead in the East and the second wild card spot, two games behind Oakland and 2 1/2 games in front of the Los Angeles Angels. Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes provided the daily reminder of how important the season is to both teams when he started the day after leaving a game with a sprained wrist, and ended up hitting his 19th homer in the victory. Baltimore, which has won eight of its last 12, has to endure two more games against Oakland before 13 straight against non-contenders Seattle, Boston, Toronto and the Red Sox again.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), CSCA (Oakland), MLBN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Zach Britton (5-2, 4.72 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (10-8, 3.56)

Britton struggled with his command against the New York Yankees last Sunday, issuing five walks while allowing five runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. That snapped a four-start winning streak for the left-hander, who had allowed a total of three runs over 28 2/3 innings during the streak. Britton had a tough time keeping his sinker down against Oakland on July 27 and ended up surrendering a pair of home runs among six hits and as many runs in a no decision.

Parker dominated the Angels over seven innings on Monday, yielding one run on four hits to pick up the win. The 23-year-old looked like he had hit the rookie wall in early August but has put up four quality starts in his last five turns to help keep Oakland in playoff position. Parker suffered through one of his worst starts at Baltimore on July 27, when he was knocked around for six runs on eight hits over five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland’s starting pitchers have issued three or fewer walks in 43 consecutive games.

2. Baltimore INF Wilson Betemit aggravated a wrist injury on Friday and could be done for the season. He will see a hand specialist at the team’s spring training facility on Sunday in Sarasota, Fla.

3. The Athletics own the best record in the majors since June 2 (61-31) and trail the Texas Rangers in the AL West by only three games.