Baltimore @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 26, 2013 ) Baltimore 3, Oakland 0

The Baltimore Orioles had only three victories in their last 19 games at the Oakland Coliseum coming into the series. They can match that in the third of a four-game set against the Athletics on Saturday afternoon. The Orioles scored 10 runs in the opener and blanked the struggling Athletics 3-0 on Friday. Baltimore has won seven of its last nine overall and has recorded at least five runs 13 times in 23 games. Chris Davis leads the Orioles' offense with 24 RBIs and 20-year-old Manny Machado has been productive with 14.

The Athletics have managed only one victory in their last eight games after a 12-4 start. It will help when Oakland gets back slugger Yoenis Cespedes back Sunday from a hand injury. The Athletics lead the American League in runs, but they have given up at least six in five of the last eight contests.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore), Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (0-1, 5.23 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (2-1, 4.50)

Tillman has not continued his outstanding form from 2012 when he finished 9-3 with a 2.93 ERA. The right-hander did have his best of four outings Monday, allowing four hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. Tillman has given up 23 hits in 20 2/3 innings overall, including three homers, and has walked 11. In one career outing against Oakland, he allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings without getting a decision.

Griffin started the season with three strong outings before getting pounded for nine runs (seven earned) over four innings against the Boston Red Sox on Monday. The right-hander surrendered only five runs in his first three starts after a solid rookie season in 2012 when he finished 7-1 with a 3.06 ERA. Left-handed hitters are only batting .239 against Griffin, who has never faced the Orioles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore RF Nick Markakis has contributed six RBIs in his last six games and 11 overall.

2. Oakland INF Jed Lowrie has 32 hits, one shy of tying the club record for the month of April set by Stan Javier and Ben Grieve.

3. Baltimore has won 102 straight contests when leading after the seventh inning, the second longest streak since 1961.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Orioles 4