Los Angeles @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) LA Angels 3, Oakland 5

THE STORY: Saturday offers a rarity in Major League Baseball - a scheduled doubleheader. How rare? Well, the last time it was done was eight summers ago. On Saturday, the Oakland Athletics will host the American League West-rival Los Angeles Angels in the first regularly scheduled doubleheader since 2003. Both teams had to agree to the twinbill prior to the league releasing the schedule. Oakland snapped a four-game losing skid with a 5-3 triumph in the opener of a four-game set on Friday. For its part, Los Angeles saw its four-game winning streak come to an end and fell for just the fourth time in 18 games.

TV: Game 2: 7:35 p.m., FSW, CSCA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ervin Santana (4-8, 3.89 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Rich Harden (1-1, 5.73 ERA)

Santana has enjoyed considerable success against the Athletics, posting a 13-3 career mark with a rail-thin 1.97 ERA. He allowed one run on six hits in six innings in a 4-1 victory over Oakland on May 25. Santana received a no-decision in his last outing, permitting three runs on six hits in seven innings against the Seattle Mariners on July 8.

Harden has also fared well versus the Angels, winning six of nine decisions. The 29-year-old British Columbia native has split his first two outings this season after beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle in his right side. He permitted five runs on eight hits in five innings in a 6-0 loss to the Rangers on July 7.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (50-43): Los Angeles placed outfielder Peter Bourjos on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury. With Bourjos sidelined, prospect Mike Trout collected his first career RBI with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning on Friday. Erick Aybar had two hits - including an RBI single - to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Aybar is 6-for-20 in his career against Cahill and 0-for-3 versus Harden. After going 0-for-4 on Friday, Torii Hunter is just 3-for-23 in his last eight games at Oakland. Hunter is just 4-for-17 against Cahill and 2-for-11 versus Harden.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (40-53): With little opportunity for playing time, Oakland optioned left fielder Chris Carter to the minors. Josh Willingham, who was shuffled to third in the lineup, belted a 446-foot, two-run homer on Friday. He is now 9-for-20 with a pair of homers since returning from the disabled list. Hideki Matsui, who is now batting cleanup, snapped an 0-for-18 skid with an RBI single in the eighth inning on Friday. He is still searching for his 500th professional home run - combining his totals in North America and Japan. Matsui, who hasn't homered since June 16, is 4-for-16 in his career versus Weaver and 2-for-12 with two homers against Santana. Reliever Joey Devine left Friday's game with an injury to his right side. Given Saturday's doubleheader, the team is more than likely to make a move to bolster its relief corps.

FINAL PITCH: Although Oakland has struggled against its division rivals, it has won six of its last eight against Los Angeles. All told, the Athletics are 14-16 versus the American League West this season.