Oakland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2013 ) Texas 6, Oakland 2

The Oakland Athletics appeared on the verge of tumbling out of contention in the American League West last week after dropping two of three at home to Texas to sink two games under .500 and fall seven games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Athletics rebounded nicely, though, by sweeping a three-game series from Kansas City over the weekend and now have a chance to cut into Texas' lead when they visit the Rangers for a three-game series beginning Monday.

Texas took three of four from the Detroit Tigers to improve to a major league-best 29-15. The Rangers are 6 1/2 games ahead of the Athletics - the biggest lead enjoyed by any division leader. They are 9-2 in their last 11 games and have scored 70 runs in that span. Adrian Beltre went 8-for-13 over the final three games against the Tigers and was 5-for-13 in the three games against Oakland last week. Lance Berkman is also on a tear, going 7-for-13 in his last three.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (3-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Josh Lindblom (2012: 3-5, 3.55)

Colon will be facing the Rangers for the second time in seven days. He did not factor in the decision in a 6-5 loss to Texas on Tuesday, giving up three runs on four hits in six innings to stretch his winless streak to four games. He has allowed five homers in his last three outings, including back-to-back starts on the road in which he permitted nine runs in 9 1/3 innings. Colon has more wins against the Rangers than any other team in the majors, posting an 18-7 record and 3.69 ERA in 30 career starts against them.

Lindblom has been promoted from Triple-A Round Rock to take the rotation slot of the injured Alexi Ogando (biceps). He will be making his first major-league start after 101 relief appearances over the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Lindblom made eight appearances (seven starts) at Round Rock and put up impressive numbers, logging a 4-0 record and 2.08 in ERA. He struck out 33 and walked 11 and posted the lowest WHIP (0.88) in the Pacific Coast League.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics LF Yoenis Cespedes, who won Sunday's game with a homer, hit a walk-off three-run blast off Lindblom last year in his only at-bat against him.

2. Texas leads the league in road wins and is 16-6 against its four AL West rivals.

3. Oakland's last 12 homers have been solo blasts, matching the second-longest such streak in team history.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Athletics 3