Baltimore @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2011 ) Baltimore 4, Oakland 8

THE STORY: Jemile Weeks arrived too late in the season to have a true shot at American League Rookie of the Year honors, but the Oakland second baseman is adding some excitement as the Athletics play out the string. Weeks is 8-for-19 over the last four games and attempts to keep his hot hitting going when Oakland completes a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Weeks has 73 hits in his first 59 major-league games for the best start in Oakland franchise history. He had two hits Tuesday to raise his average to .294 as Oakland posted an 8-4 victory to snap a four-game losing streak. Baltimore was vying for its first three-game winning streak since early June.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alfredo Simon (3-5, 4.35) vs. Athletics RH Brandon McCarthy (5-6, 3.62)

Simon is 1-3 over his last five games. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings in his last outing against Detroit when he gave up four runs and 11 hits. He wasn’t involved in the decision. Simon beat Kansas City three starts ago when he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. He has a 11.57 ERA in three career relief appearances against Oakland.

McCarthy had a four-game winning streak snapped when he lost to Texas in his last outing. He gave up seven runs (five earned) and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings and was hit on the right knee by a line drive. He tested the knee Monday in a bullpen session and asserted that he was fine. McCarthy has fanned 14 batters without issuing a walk over his last three starts. He is 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against Baltimore. Vladimir Guerrero is batting .333 with a homer in 15 career at-bats against McCarthy.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (54-68): Oakland scored just 10 runs during its four-game losing skid before tallying eight on Tuesday. The victory was the Athletics’ 13th in their last 15 home games against the Orioles. Cliff Pennington had three hits and is 5-for-8 in the series. Josh Willingham had two hits and homered to reach the 20-homer mark for the fourth time. His career-high of 26 was with the Florida Marlins in 2006. Willingham also dropped a flyball for Oakland’s league-leading 100th error of the campaign. Conor Jackson (neck) missed his third straight game and is also expected to sit out Wednesday’s contest.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (47-73): Adam Jones threw out two runners – one at the plate and one in which he doubled a runner off first base – and has 13 assists, second in the majors behind Kansas City’s Jeff Francoeur. Guerrero has two hits and is batting .400 in 20 at-bats over his past five games. J.J. Hardy went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. Hardy is hitless in 17 at-bats over the last four games. Baltimore placed third baseman Chris Davis (shoulder) on the disabled list. Injured second baseman Brian Roberts is slated to see a concussion specialist Wednesday. He’s been sidelined since May 16. Baltimore signed right-handed prep pitcher Dylan Bundy just prior to the Monday night signing deadline. Bundy was the fourth overall pick in the draft.

FINAL PITCH: Baltimore is 5-19 in its last 24 road games. After completing the series at Oakland, The Orioles visit the Los Angeles Angels for three games and the Minnesota Twins for four.