Oakland @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2013 ) Oakland 2, Pittsburgh 1

The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit a speed bump, mired in their first three-game losing streak in more than a month heading into Tuesday's middle game of a three-game set against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The Pirates have scored only five runs during the skid and have gone 2-5 in July to fall out of first place in the National League Central, and sit one-half game behind St. Louis. Reversing the slump will not be easy against an Oakland squad that has won all 10 meetings between the teams.

The Athletics have won nine of 12 to move a season-high 16 games over .500 and maintain a half-game lead over Texas atop the American League West. Oakland snapped Pittsburgh's eight-game interleague winning streak with a 2-1 victory in the series opener, marking their 12th win in the last 16 games against National League foes. Third baseman Josh Donaldson has hit safely in 11 of the last 12 games and knocked in 12 runs during that span.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Dan Straily (5-2, 4.52 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.94)

Straily returned from a brief minor-league demotion to turn in one of the best performances of his career his last time out, giving up one hit in seven scoreless innings of a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. He is 4-0 over his last eight major-league starts, allowing two runs or fewer six times in that stretch. Straily has struggled away from Oakland, going 2-1 with a 5.31 ERA in seven road starts.

Cole finally tasted defeat after winning his first four career starts, permitting three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. Cole has given up 13 runs over his first five starts and has been helped by an offense that has supplied him with 33 runs. His blazing fastball has not translated into high strikeout numbers, but Cole has surrendered only one homer in 29 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland's 53-37 record is its best through 90 games since going 57-33 in 1990.

2. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez had two hits Monday to run his streak to six games.

3. Pirates 2B Neil Walker sat out his second straight game due to discomfort in his right side.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Pirates 3