Oakland @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) Oakland 1, NY Yankees 2

The New York Yankees keep managing to stay on top of the American League East by the slimmest of margins. The Oakland Athletics have all of a sudden begun to stumble at the worst possible time. The Yankees remained a game up on the Baltimore Orioles in the division thanks to Russell Martin, whose 10th-inning homer on Friday gave New York the dramatic win. That homer also knocked the Athletics off the wild card lead.

Oakland now trails the Orioles by a game for the top wild card spot but is still up on the Los Angeles Angels for the No. 2 slot. The Athletics are enduring a brutal road trip that has already resulted in losses in three of the first four games. They still have two more at Yankee Stadium before four games at AL-leading Texas. Martin’s home run bailed out a rare blown save by Rafael Soriano. The New York bullpen has endured a heavy load of late and expected to get a break with CC Sabathia’s eight scoreless innings on Friday. Instead, David Robertson was forced into duty for the third straight day.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, CSCA (Oakland), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Oakland LH Travis Blackley (5-3, 3.36 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.85)

Blackley is being returned to the rotation after three weeks in the bullpen. The left-hander has gone 4-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 starts this season, including a win over Cleveland in his last outing. Like most Oakland pitchers, Blackley has had less success on the road, posting a 3-2 record with a 4.26 ERA in 12 appearances - eight starts - away from the Coliseum.

Nova made a strong return from the disabled list last Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out eight in six innings to beat Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched well at the Athletics on July 20, surrendering two runs in 6 2/3 innings en route to a no-decision. He has faced Oakland twice in his career, allowing a total of five runs on 15 hits in 13 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees OF Ichiro Suzuki is 11-for-15 over the past four games and is batting .327 since joining the team.

2. Oakland CF Coco Crisp (pink eye) was out of the starting lineup again on Friday but appeared as a pinch runner in the ninth. He is hopeful of playing this weekend.

3. New York SS Derek Jeter has hit safely in 15 straight games.