Baltimore @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) Baltimore 2, Oakland 5

The Baltimore Orioles were feeling pretty good about themselves with a pair of walk-off victories in a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the week. The Oakland Athletics have been more difficult to dispatch. The streaking Athletics have taken the first two contests of the series and eight of their last nine to pull within two games of the Texas Rangers in the American League West. The Orioles are a game behind the New York Yankees in the East.

Oakland has not been this close to the AL West lead since April 13 and is comfortably ahead in the wild card race, three games clear of second-place Baltimore. The Athletics could use all the room they can get with a 10-game road trip through Detroit, New York and Texas beginning on Tuesday. The Orioles have had a tough time scoring in Oakland’s cavernous ballpark, managing just two runs in each of the first two games despite 15 total hits. The Athletics have made better use of their opportunities, including three straight RBI hits in a five-run inning that broke the game open on Saturday.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Randy Wolf (2-0, 5.68 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Dan Straily (2-0, 3.42)

Wolf will be making his first start for Baltimore after three appearances out of the bullpen. The veteran left-hander allowed four runs and as many hits in a total of 6 1/3 innings in relief. Wolf was let go by the Milwaukee Brewers last month with a 3-10 record and a 5.69 ERA. The longtime National League hurler has made two career starts against Oakland, going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA.

Straily is one of several rookie pitchers thriving for the Athletics in 2012. The 23-year-old right-hander was recalled from Triple-A to start against the Angels on Tuesday and picked up the win, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings. Straily had a rough time in his last home start, serving up four home runs in 4 2/3 innings to suffer a loss to that same Los Angeles club on Aug. 8.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics 1B Chris Carter snapped out of an 0-for-12 funk with his two-run double on Saturday and reached base three times in the contest.

2. Orioles OF Nate McLouth, who has recorded multiple hits in three of the last five games, has been solid since taking over for Nick Markakis in the leadoff spot.

3. Oakland RHP Grant Balfour has recorded the save in each of the first two games but has only worked three days straight three times this season. The last time was from Sunday through Tuesday, and he allowed two runs without recording an out the third day.