Oakland @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2013 ) Oakland 2, Baltimore 1

The Oakland Athletics notched a pivotal victory in the middle contest of a three-game set and attempt to record another when they conclude a series against the host Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Oakland’s victory allowed it to maintain a 2 1/2-game edge over the Cleveland Indians in the competition for the American League’s second wild card and pushed Baltimore three games back. Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp hit the tiebreaking homer in the ninth in Saturday’s 2-1 victory.

Crisp has homered in three consecutive games and has 13 for the season, three shy of the career-high total he accumulated for Cleveland in 2005. Oakland snapped a three-game losing skid with Saturday’s victory to move within 2 1/2 games of the Texas Rangers in the AL West, while Baltimore has lost seven of its last 11 games and is 5 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay and Boston in the AL East. Orioles slugger Chris Davis is hitless in six at-bats in the series and is batting just .211 in six games against the Athletics this season.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, CSN (Oakland), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Sonny Gray (1-1, 1.44 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Scott Feldman (3-3, 4.84)

Gray is making his fourth big-league start and he has pitched superbly in his last two turns. He defeated Houston with eight innings of four-hit shutout ball on Aug. 15 and gave up two runs and two hits in seven innings in a no-decision against Seattle in his next turn. Gray, a 2011 first-round pick, has fanned 27 and allowed only 12 hits in 25 innings.

Feldman is 10-9 overall counting his time with the Chicago Cubs and is making his ninth start since being dealt to Baltimore. He defeated Colorado in his last outing when he gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Feldman is 4-6 with a 6.37 ERA in 21 career appearances (12 starts) against Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics SS Jed Lowrie is 9-for-25 with four doubles and two triples during a six-game hitting streak.

2. Baltimore OF Nick Markakis’ last 31 hits are singles dating to July 19.

3. Oakland 3B Alberto Callaspo is 1-for-15 against Feldman.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Orioles 1