Toronto @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2010 ) Toronto 2, Oakland 6
The Oakland Athletics will be happy to get off the night shift when they close a three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum.
The difference in the A’s being in the thick of playoff contention and trailing the American League West-leading Texas Rangers by nine games is night and day.
The A’s have won 11 of their last 13 day games and are 28-12 overall during the day, the best record in the majors. Conversely, they are just 30-48 at night, the second-worst mark in the AL. The A’s also lead the majors with a 2.73 ERA in day games.
The Athletics will send Gio Gonzalez (10-8, 3.49 ERA) against Toronto’s Marc Rzepczynski (1-1, 4.42) in a matchup of left-handers to see which team claims the series.
Oakland snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 6-2 victory over Toronto.
Dallas Braden threw three-hit ball for seven innings and allowed one earned run for his fourth win in five starts since coming off the disabled list July 20. Leadoff hitter Coco Crisp had three hits, scored two runs and stole two bases as the A’s chased Brandon Morrow after just four innings.
The A's swiped four bases and lead the majors with 39 stolen bases since the All-Star break. The six runs were the most for the A’s since Aug. 7.
Like the A’s, Gonzalez does his best work during the day. He is 6-1 with a 2.10 ERA and allows opponents to hit just .137 (37-for-198) in eight starts during the day.
Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in two career starts against the Jays, both at Rogers Centre. He earned a win on May 1, allowing two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-3 victory. Gonzalez will try to forget a 4-3 loss to Minnesota on Friday. He allowed three hits in six innings, but gave up four runs – two earned – on two walks, two Oakland errors and a squeeze play at the plate.
Rzepczynski is coming off a sound performance against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. He allowed two hits and struck out six in seven innings in a 3-0 shutout for his first victory of the season.
Rzepczynski, who has acquired the nickname “Scrabble” because of his unusual last name, has been called back and forth from Triple-A Las Vegas this season and also got a late start when a batted ball broke his left middle finger in spring training.
He has an impressive 19 strikeouts and two walks in 18 1/3 innings with the Jays.