Baltimore @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2013 ) Baltimore 7, Oakland 3

The Oakland Athletics have dominated fellow members of the American League West but have not been able to do much of anything against the rest of the league. The Athletics will be trying to avoid a four-game sweep when they host the AL East’s Baltimore Orioles in the finale on Sunday. Oakland has gone 11-2 against the West but fell to 2-10 against the rest of the AL with their fourth straight setback on Saturday.

The Orioles have held the A’s to five runs in the first three games of the series and have bashed the ball in most of their turns at the plate. Baltimore pounded out 15 hits in a 10-2 win in the series opener and recorded three home runs among 10 hits in Saturday’s 7-3 triumph. Nick Markakis has a homer and five RBIs in the series to lead the way. Oakland has dropped eight of its last nine overall as its own offense has stumbled. Josh Reddick went 0-for-2 on Saturday to drop his average to .155 and Chris Young is at .162.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (2-1, 4.13 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (3-0, 2.42)

Gonzalez has struggled with his command but has limited the damage in most of his starts. The Mexico native has issued 12 walks in 24 innings but has three quality starts and earned a win with six strong innings against Toronto on Tuesday. The right-hander has never faced Oakland but has been at his best on the road this season with a 1-1 mark and a 2.92 ERA.

Colon has the lone victory in the last nine games for the A’s with seven scoreless innings in brutal weather conditions at Boston on Tuesday. The burly right-hander struck out a season-high seven batters in that outing and has issued just one walk in 26 innings. Colon has posted a 12-8 record with a 3.10 ERA in 26 career games against the Orioles and has been tough on Matt Wieters (1-for-10) and J.J. Hardy (2-for-17).

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore has not swept a four-game series in Oakland since 1987.

2. Orioles C Taylor Teagarden (dislocated left thumb) was forced out of the game on Saturday and is likely to end up on the disabled list.

3. The A’s could activate OF Yoenis Cespedes (left hand) from the DL in time for Sunday’s contest.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Athletics 2