Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2013 ) Oakland 7, Cleveland 6

The Oakland Athletics will continue their 10-game road trip against an opponent that it completely dominated a year ago. The Athletics open a four-game series in Cleveland on Monday night and will be seeking their ninth consecutive victory over the Indians. Oakland won two of three at Yankee Stadium over the weekend and has gone 5-2 in its last seven games. The Athletics outscored the Indians 30-11 in a four-game sweep in Cleveland in late August.

The Indians had their six-game winning streak snapped by the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Sunday. Cleveland amassed some staggering numbers during the six-game run, outscoring the opposition 53-14 and putting up at least six runs in each victory. A number of players are swinging hot bats for the Indians. Carlos Santana has seven multi-hit games in his last 14, Asdrubal Cabrera has hit safely in 12 of 13 and Ryan Raburn is 13-for-22 over his last five games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (1-4, 7.36 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 7.13)

Parker snapped a four-game losing streak last time out, although he was not particularly sharp in giving up four runs (three earned) in six innings of a 10-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels. That game marked one of the few times Parker has received offensive support from Oakland, which has been limited to two runs or fewer in four of his six outings. Parker has won both his career starts against the Indians, tossing eight scoreless innings at home and yielding five runs in five innings at Cleveland.

Jimenez also earned his first victory in his last start, throwing seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball at Kansas City in his longest outing of the year. He had pitched a total of only 11 innings in his previous three outings, allowing 18 runs on 13 hits. Jimenez has not fared well in his two home starts, getting battered by the New York Yankees and Boston for seven runs apiece. He is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland has scored fewer than five runs only once in the last eight meetings with Cleveland.

2. The Indians lead the AL in slugging percentage (.468)

3. The Athletics have drawn a major league-high 149 walks.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Indians 4