Oakland @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2016 ) Oakland 6, Tampa Bay 3

The Oakland Athletics look to win back-to-back games for the first time since the last two days of April when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. The Athletics snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory in the opener of a three-game set Friday as Danny Valencia belted a pair of homers after returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the previous two contests.

Oakland gave up double-digit runs in four straight contests before Friday, but got their own offense in gear as Valencia, Billy Burns and Yonder Alonso all extended their hitting streaks to eight games. The Rays will send right-hander Matt Andriese to the mound Saturday to try and end a four-game losing streak after they won a season-high four in a row. Tampa Bay has been without its leadoff hitter Logan Forsythe (sore shoulder) for most of those four games and the second baseman could return to the lineup Saturday. Steve Pearce has appeared to seize the first base job from Logan Morrison for the Rays, going 10-for-28 with four homers and seven RBIs in the last seven contests.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (1-4, 5.74 ERA) vs. Rays RH Matt Andriese (1-0, 1.29)

Graveman has struggled in his last three starts after beginning the season with three solid outings in which he allowed four runs combined. The 25-year-old Mississippi State product has surrendered 16 runs and seven homers among 25 hits over his last three games. Graveman made two starts against Tampa Bay last season and went 1-0 while limiting the Rays to six hits over 12 scoreless innings.

Andriese was outstanding in his 2016 debut to earn a spot in the rotation, limiting the Los Angeles Angels to one run on four hits in seven innings. The 26-year-old Californian, who went 3-5 with a 4.11 ERA in 25 appearances (eight starts) last season, struck out three and walked three last Sunday. Andriese gave up two runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning against the Athletics in one meeting in 2015.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays OF Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch Friday for the 12th time this season, which leads the majors.

2. Oakland OF-DH Khris Davis is 6-for-18 with seven RBIs, including a homer Friday, in the last four games.

3. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria has 18 RBIs on the season, including nine in the last 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Athletics 3