Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2011 ) Oakland 2, Cleveland 6

THE STORY: The short-handed Cleveland Indians haven't gone away in the American League Central. The Indians, who have won four of five and trail Detroit by 5 1/2 games, shoot shoot for their third straight win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. The Athletics, losers of four straight and five of six, have scored three runs in the first two games of the series. The Indians are 4-1 against Oakland this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Rich Harden (4-2, 4.55 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (8-10, 4.71).

Harden has pitched much better at home than he has on the road this season. He is 2-0 with a 3.30 ERA and has held batters to a .171 average in five starts in Oakland. Harden is 2-2 with a 5.93 ERA and a .292 opponents average in five road starts. Harden is 1-0 with a 4.36 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against Cleveland. He hasn't faced the Indians since April 12 of last season, when he allowed two earned runs in six innings in a no-decision while pitching for Texas. Cleveland is 2-3 in games started by Jimenez, which isn't exactly what the Indians had in mind when they traded their two best pitching prospects to Colorado last month. Jimenez has been outstanding in his two wins - both coming at home - in which he has given up one earned run in 15 innings. His road starts have been abysmal. Jimenez has allowed 17 earned runs in 13 innings. He is 2-1 with the Indians and will be making his first appearance against Oakland.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (60-75): Oakland manager Bob Melvin is trying to figure out what is wrong with his offense. The Athletics scored 36 runs on 53 hits in the first four games of their road trip and went 3-1. Oakland's position players have missed the team bus since then. The Athletics have scored six runs on 18 hits in losing four straight. The list of slumping Oakland players is a long one: Brandon Allen (0-for-14), Conor Jackson (0-for-21) and Josh Willingham (0-for-11).

ABOUT THE INDIANS (67-65): Cleveland could have used some production from Matt LaPorta with so many key players out with injuries, but it didn't happen. LaPorta's numbers tell the story on why he was sent to the minors Tuesday. He batted .238 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 319 at-bats. LaPorta's lack of production against lefthanders - .205, one homer, eight RBIs - was especially damaging since the Indians have needed punch from the right side. LaPorta, acquired in the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee in 2008, has been given plenty of chances.

FINAL PITCH: Grady Sizemore, who has been battling injuries all season, is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday. Sizemore has been out since mid-July because of a sports hernia and a knee injury.