Toronto @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2011 ) Toronto 1, Oakland 5

THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays looked lost without their superstar slugger on Saturday, but they may not have to do without him in Sunday's series finale. Jose Bautista may make his return from a one-game absence as the Blue Jays face the host Oakland Athletics seeking a split of their four-game series. Bautista's presence would provide a much-needed boost for a Toronto roster that has managed just one run in consecutive losses to the A's.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet, Comcast SportsNet California

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Luis Perez (2-2, 3.71 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Guillermo Moscoso (6-6, 3.48 ERA).

Perez makes his first major-league start Sunday as the Jays' fifth-starter carousel continues. With Carlos Villanueva on the disabled list, Jesse Litsch reassigned to the bullpen and Brad Mills demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, Perez - a 26-year-old outfielder-turned-hurler - gets his shot at proving his worth in the rotation. He has allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings vs. the Athletics.

Moscoso is on a roll, having won three of his last four starts following back-to-back rough outings in late-July. The 27-year-old beat the Jays in Toronto on Aug. 11, allowing one earned run over six quality innings in a 10-3 triumph. He followed that up with six innings of five-hit ball in a victory over the Baltimore Orioles five days ago. Moscoso is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in seven home starts.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (64-62): With Bautista (neck) and fellow slugger Adam Lind (wrist) on the mend, Toronto's lineup could be depleted in Sunday's finale. Bautista is expected to return if he wakes up feeling better, while Lind - who was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Saturday's loss - is considered day-to-day. The Blue Jays can ill afford to be without either one of them, having racked up just seven hits over the past two games. Add in Toronto's dismal afternoon record - the Blue Jays rank among the worst teams in the majors with an 18-28 matinee mark - and Sunday could be a long one for Toronto.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (57-69): Oakland may yet decide to trade veteran outfielder/DH Hideki Matsui before the August 31 waiver deadline - and if it does, the return could be better than expected. Clubs looking for an extra bat for the stretch run have to be impressed with Matsui's second half, in which the 37-year-old is hitting a sizzling .384 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 32 games. He has hit safely in each of his last six games, including a pair of hits and an RBI in Saturday's victory. He isn't even the hottest A's hitter of late - that distinction belongs to Josh Willingham, who belted his third homer in five games in a pinch-hit appearance Saturday.

FINAL PITCH: Oakland leads the season series 5-4. Toronto won the head-to-head showdown each of the previous two years.