Oakland @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2013 ) Oakland 3, Cleveland 4

The Oakland Athletics are steaming after instant replay failed them, but more importantly must figure out a way to beat red-hot Cleveland. The Indians will try for a four-game sweep and their 10th win in 11 games when they host the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. Oakland appeared to have tied Wednesday's game with two outs in the ninth inning when Adam Rosales homered off a railing beyond the left-center field fence, but the umpires inexplicably did not see it that way during their review.

Oakland starter Bartolo Colon turns 40 on May 24, but is still winning games because of two simple reasons: He tends to throw strikes early in the count and keeps the ball down. Colon began his career in Cleveland, where he was 75-45 in six seasons. He will try for major-league victory No. 175 when he opposes Scott Kazmir, who is making a solid bid to resurrect his career. The Indians lead the American League with 46 home runs after hitting two in Wednesday's 4-3 victory.

TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, Sports Time Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (3-1, 3.62 ERA) vs. Indians LH Scott Kazmir (1-1, 6.28)

After serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy, Colon won his first three decisions over five starts. The Dominican Republic native lost his last outing - a 4-2 decision at Yankee Stadium on Saturday - when he allowed two home runs, matching the total yielded in his first five starts. Colon is 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 10 starts against the Indians, but Nick Swisher (5-for-10, home run, two doubles) has given him trouble.

Kazmir, who last pitched a full season in the majors in 2010 before a string of arm injuries set him back, has a 3.27 ERA in his last two starts. The 29-year-old and two-time American League All-Star recorded his first victory since Sept. 19, 2010 when he allowed two runs in six innings in Cleveland's 7-3 win over Minnesota on May 4. Coco Crisp has 11 hits and as many strikeouts in 36 at-bats against Kazmir, who was 3-6 in 14 starts for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League in 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland is 13-3 against the American League West and 5-14 versus everyone else.

2. Athletics OF Josh Reddick missed his second straight game Wednesday with a sore right wrist. He is 3-for-27 with eight strikeouts in his last 11 games.

3. Rosales on the controversial play: "The replays showed it hit the railing. With six eyes on it (three umpires during the review), you would have thought they'd make the right call." Added manager Bob Melvin, who was ejected after the ruling came down: "Clearly, it hit the railing. I'm at a loss, I'm at a complete loss."

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Indians 2