Oakland @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) NY Yankees 4, Oakland 5
The Oakland Athletics' postseason road - if they get there - is likely to pass through Yankee Stadium. And their road to the playoffs swings that way this weekend, as Oakland travels to New York for a three-game series between American League playoff contenders. The A's are four games back of Texas in the AL West and tied with Baltimore for the wild-card lead, while the Yankees hold a one-game advantage over the Orioles in the AL East.
The Yankees have won five straight and seven of eight after completing a three-game sweep of visiting Toronto. Now they turn to left-hander CC Sabathia, who has struggled over the past month. Sabathia is 8-8 with a 4.80 ERA in 24 starts against the A's. Oakland leads the season series 4-3 but is making its first trip to Yankee Stadium this year. The A's hope that won't be a culture shock for their young pitching staff, as right-hander Jarrod Parker will be the first of three young A's pitchers to make his first start in the Bronx this weekend.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSNCA, MY9, MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (11-8, 3.51 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (13-6, 3.63)
Parker has recorded quality starts in five of his last six outings and won two straight decisions and four of his last five. He held Baltimore to two runs over seven innings his last time out. Parker faced the Yankees on July 21, earning the victory by allowing one run on five hits over eight innings in a 2-1 win.
Sabathia is winless in four starts since Aug. 24, and his last two outings have been rocky. He has allowed nine runs in 13 innings over his past two starts. Sabathia has faced Oakland twice this season - both on the road - and gone seven innings each time. He allowed two runs in a win May 26 and gave up three runs in a no-decision July 22.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter is riding a 14-game hitting streak, the longest active run in the majors.
2. New York OF Ichiro Suzuki went 9-for-12 in a three-game sweep of Toronto and is hitting .321 in 54 games with the Yankees after batting .261 in 95 games with Seattle before being traded.
3. Oakland OF Coco Crisp (pink eye) has missed three straight games, but could return to the lineup Friday. Crisp attempted to play the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday but had to leave after three innings because of the infection in both eyes.