Oakland @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Oakland 3, Cleveland 4
THE STORY: Make the coffee extra strong. After playing 16 innings in a game that lasted five hours, two minutes on Wednesday night, the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians will need it. The teams complete their four-game series with a noon start Thursday in Cleveland. The Indians, who have won five of six, will be trying for the sweep. Cleveland moved into second place in the American League Central with Wednesday's win and trails Detroit by 5 1/2 games. The Athletics have lost five in a row and are 3-6 going into the final game of their road trip. Cleveland is 5-1 against Oakland this season
TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, MLB.TV
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 3.35 ERA) vs. Indians RH Fausto Carmona (6-12, 4.85).
Gonzalez has never lost to Cleveland. The lefthander is 4-0 with a 0.89 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings against the Indians. Gonzalez has won his last two starts overall, but was fortunate to get a lot of offense in a 15-5 victory at Boston on Friday. He allowed four runs and seven hits, including two homers, in 5 2/3 innings. Carmona has had problems with Oakland. He is 4-5 with a 4.95 ERA, but defeated the Athletics on May 5 in Oakland, allowing one run and five hits in eight innings. Carmona has had no-decisions in his last two starts, but needed a late rally from his offense to avoid getting tagged with a loss Saturday against Kansas City.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (60-76): Second baseman Jemile Weeks is one of the few Oakland hitters who is producing. He is hitting .389 (14-for-36) in an eight-game hitting streak. Weeks is among the AL's rookie leaders in hits, doubles, triples, extra base hits and stolen bases. Those numbers are even more impressive considering he wasn't called up until June 7. Manager Bob Melvin has quickly gained confidence in Weeks, who has batted in the leadoff spot in each of his last 63 starts.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (68-65): Manager Manny Acta has been waiting all season for Carlos Santana to start hitting. That patience is finally paying off. Since Aug. 4, the switch-hitter is batting .291 (30-for-103) with six homers and 19 RBIs in 25 games. While Santana has struck out 110 times, he has drawn 77 walks and should push the 100-mark in that category. Santana's time at first base will increase in the final month since Matt LaPorta was sent to the minors Tuesday.
FINAL PITCH: Gonzalez and Carmona will be under a lot of pressure to pitch deep into Thursday's game. Oakland used seven relievers while Cleveland used five Wednesday.