Kansas City @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( May 18, 2013 ) Kansas City 1, Oakland 2

The Kansas City Royals have wasted a pair of superb pitching performances and, consequently, are staring at the possibility of a three-game sweep in the series finale against the host Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Luis Mendoza will take the mound for the Royals and has a tough act to follow after James Shields permitted two runs on six hits in the series opener and Ervin Santana gave up a pair of runs on four hits Saturday in identical 2-1 defeats.

The Athletics have received two stellar starts of their own from Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone to climb back to .500 at 22-22. Oakland's bullpen has yielded one hit in five scoreless innings in the series. Left-hander Sean Doolittle has not allowed a run in his last 10 appearances and closer Grant Balfour saved both victories, running his streak of consecutive saves to 26 dating to last year.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (4-3, 3.48)

Mendoza finally broke into the win column in his last outing, limiting the Los Angeles Angels to three runs on six hits in six innings. That matched the longest stint of the year for Mendoza, who struck out six and did not walk a batter for the first time in his six appearances (five starts). Mendoza had struggled with his control in five outings (two starts) against Oakland, going 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA and permitting six walks in only 10 1/3 innings.

Griffin has turned a corner following back-to-back rocky outings at the end of April. He has won two of his last three starts, surrendering a total of four runs and pitching at least 6 2/3 innings in each. Griffin was outstanding in his last turn, limiting Texas to one run on six hits while matching his season high of eight strikeouts. He has had trouble keeping the ball in the park, giving up seven home runs in his last five starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Griffin, who has never faced the Royals, has allowed nine runs in four home starts.

2. Royals LF Alex Gordon is riding a six-game hitting streak.

2. Balfour is one save shy of tying Andrew Bailey for the second-longest streak of consecutive saves in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Royals 2