Cleveland @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Oakland 3

If the Cleveland Indians hope to continue their surprising season and remain in playoff contention, they better figure out a way to beat the Athletics in Oakland. The Indians have won 12 of their last 41 games in Oakland entering the middle contest of a three-game series Saturday. Cleveland, which finished 26 games below .500 last season, is eight above in 2013 while trailing the Athletics by four games for the final American League wild card spot and Detroit by six in the AL Central.

Oakland prevailed 3-2 on Friday for its sixth win in 15 games to move within one-half game of Texas while increasing its wild-card lead to four over Baltimore. The Athletics snapped a four-game losing streak to the Indians, all coming in a series sweep in Cleveland in May when they were outscored 21-8. The Indians' Ubaldo Jimenez is 1-3 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break and will oppose Dan Straily, who pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings in his last outing.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (8-7, 4.11 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Dan Straily (6-6, 4.19)

Jimenez continues to struggle with his command, walking two or more batters in 12 consecutive starts while issuing 65 in 122 2/3 innings this season. The 29-year-old lost his last two starts with five free passes in 10 1/3 frames and didn't receive much help from his defense as four of the eight runs he yielded were unearned. Jimenez, who is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in three starts against Oakland, has handled Chris Young (7-for-41, 17 strikeouts).

Straily allowed one run and six hits, but didn't receive the win in Oakland's 5-1 victory at Toronto on Sunday. The 24-year-old lost his previous four starts while not getting out of the fifth inning in the last three after winning five straight decisions. Straily, who has never faced Cleveland or any of its players, is 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and .230 batting average against in eight home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians fell to 17-7 against the AL West, 24-15 in games decided in the seventh inning or later and 24-15 in one-run games following Friday's loss.

2. Athletics CF Coco Crisp missed his third straight game because of a left wrist injury. He remains day-to-day.

3. Former Oakland fan favorite Nick Swisher drove in one run and scored the other Friday despite being booed heartily.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Indians 2