Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 6, 2013 ) Oakland 3, Cleveland 7

The Cleveland Indians have become an offensive juggernaut and the pitching staff is showing signs of life. The Indians have won seven of their last eight games as they host the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. Cleveland averaged 7.8 runs in its last eight games and scored at least six runs in its seven victories. The Indians hit four solo home runs and snapped an eight-game losing streak to Oakland with a 7-3 victory on Tuesday.

Ubaldo Jimenez, who had a 10.06 ERA through four starts, lowered it to 6.37 on Tuesday with his second straight victory as the Indians' ERA has dropped to a respectable 4.09. The Athletics continue to struggle against teams outside their division. They are 13-3 against the American League West and 5-12 against everyone else. Oakland on Tuesday will start Tommy Milone, who has lost three straight decisions but has a 3.54 ERA and 1.13 WHIP during that stretch.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Tommy Milone (3-3, 3.69 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (2-3, 3.30)

Milone matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in his last start, but allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Saugus, Calif., native has allowed 40 hits and struck out 36 in 39 innings. Milone is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts against the Indians, including six shutout innings in a 7-0 victory on Aug. 28 in Cleveland when he opposed McAllister.

McAllister allowed two runs in seven innings in his best start of the season and was helped by seven home runs in Cleveland's 14-2 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Chillicothe, Ill., native has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his five starts. McAllister has allowed nine runs and 17 hits in 10 1/3 innings in two starts against Oakland, including the Aug. 28 setback when Brandon Moss connected for a two-run homer.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland on Monday placed RHP Vinnie Pestano on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis and recalled LHP Nick Hagadone from Triple-A Columbus. Hagadone entered Monday's game with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning and struck out Josh Reddick looking to preserve the 4-2 lead.

2. Athletics SS Jed Lowrie is 0-for-14 in his last four games.

3. The Indians' Mark Reynolds has 31 home runs - the most in the majors since Aug. 31 - after his 460-foot blast Monday. Reynolds has an American League-best 10 of Cleveland's AL-leading 44 homers.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Indians 2