Oakland @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2007 ) Oakland 2, NY Mets 10

THE STORY: Sometimes, all it takes is a change in the voice at the top to get a team moving in the right direction. Or maybe it was just an inevitable change in luck. Either way, the Oakland Athletics are winning behind new manager Bob Melvin as they swept the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants over the weekend to run their streak to five straight games. The New York Mets keep trying to put a winning streak together, it just hasn’t been happening. The Mets will be looking to bounce back from a series loss and knock the Athletics down a peg or two when the teams open a three-game series at New York on Tuesday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), SportsNet New York

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (7-0, 2.86 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Josh Outman (2-1, 3.14 ERA). Gee has been a pleasant surprise for New York, turning into its most reliable starter after joining the rotation for good in May. The 25-year old rookie potentially had his string of five straight wins snapped last time out because of a rain delay as he was pulled following four scoreless innings in a game the Mets went on to win. Gee has never faced an American League team. Outman has been nearly as strong for Oakland, turning in four quality starts in five chances since coming off the disabled list. The lefthander posted his best start of the season last time out, holding the Kansas City Royals scoreless on four hits over seven innings to pick up the win. Outman, who missed all of 2010 following elbow surgery, has made three interleague starts in his career, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.52 ERA.

ABOUT THE METS (35-37): New York continues to frustrate, pulling up close to .500 but refusing to go over the top. The Mets missed a chance to pull even Sunday, dropping a 7-3 decision to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and losing the three-game series 2-1. Consistency has been the biggest issue, especially from the offense. After the big bats all contributed in a win Saturday, the middle of the order fell silent Sunday. The Nos. 4, 5 and 6 hitters combined to go 0-for-11 and left 10 on base. Jason Bay, who appeared to be coming out of his season-long slump with a four-game hitting streak, went 0-for-4 and struck out twice Sunday.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (33-40): Oakland handed Melvin the title of interim manager June 9 after dropping seven straight to open June. The Athletics went on to lose four of their first five under their new skipper but have come alive of late, getting strong pitching performances and some timely hitting en route to five straight wins. Trevor Cahill, who had been enduring a terrible stretch for more than a month, dominated through eight innings in a 2-1 victory over their Bay Area rivals the Giants on Sunday, and Landon Powell made good use of a rare start with the tiebreaking solo home run. Oakland has benefited from the spark provided by rookie Jemile Weeks, who assumed the leadoff spot in the lineup and went 3-for-4 to boost his average to .364 in 12 games.

FINAL PITCH: Oakland righthander Rich Harden pitched three hitless innings and struck out six on 42 pitches in a rehab assignment with Triple A Sacramento on Monday. Harden, who re-signed with his original team in the off-season, has not pitched in 2011 because of a shoulder strain. He will likely need three more rehab starts before he is ready for major league hitters.