Chicago @ Oakland preview

Chi. White Sox at Oakland

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Oakland 4

The Oakland Athletics have caught fire by winning 11 of their last 13, and hope to keep the flame going on Friday against a Chicago White Sox team that limps into town after having been swept by the rival Chicago Cubs. The Athletics begin the three-game series trailing the Texas Rangers by three games in the American League West. They saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss at San Francisco on Thursday.

Oakland's no-name offense continues to produce, ranking fourth in the American League in runs scored - and the Athletics could get a boost from the return of outfielder Josh Reddick (wrist) as soon as Friday. The White Sox need something to revive their offense. After belting 12 home runs in a nine-game span earlier this month, Chicago has hit only one in its past six contests.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), CSN-California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (3-3, 4.21 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (5-2, 3.82)

After going winless in his first seven outings of the season, Axelrod has won three straight starts. He held Miami to three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings his last time out. Axelrod has never faced the Athletics. The 27-year-old has five quality starts this season - but only one win in those outings.

Colon has recorded three straight quality starts and won his second consecutive outing after scattering nine hits over seven scoreless frames Sunday at Houston. He racked up a season-high nine strikeouts and didn't issue a walk. Colon is 10-8 with a 4.06 ERA in 22 starts against the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox RF Alex Rios, who snapped a 1-for-19 skid with a double in his next-to-last at-bat Thursday, is 9-for-22 with a double and a triple against Colon.

2. Colon has allowed only four walks in 61 1/3 innings this season and has walked more than one in only one of his 10 starts.

3. Athletics LF Yoenis Cespedes is riding a career-best 12-game hitting streak - the longest active streak in the American League - but he's batting just .280 during that span.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, White Sox 4