Tampa Bay @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 3, Oakland 4

The Tampa Bay Rays picked the wrong time for a slump as the Oakland Athletics catapulted past them in the American League wild-card race with a series-opening victory. Tampa Bay has lost five of six games but can regain the top wild-card spot by returning serve and defeating host Oakland in Saturday’s second contest of the three-game set. The Athletics have won four of five contests to creep within two games of the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West.

The Rays are 3 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox, and Friday’s loss began a pivotal stretch during which they play 13-of-16 contests on the road. Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria is struggling badly, as his bloop single in the opener is his lone hit in 19 at-bats over the last five games. Oakland's Jed Lowrie hit his 40th double of the season - and franchise-record 13th of the month - to drive in the decisive run in the eighth inning of Friday's 4-3 victory.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (8-2, 2.87 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Sonny Gray (1-2, 3.18)

Cobb is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in three starts since taking a line drive to the head in mid-June. He allowed one earned run in each of the victories and received a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last turn, giving up two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Cobb is 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in four career starts against Oakland, including a victorious stint on April 19 in which he yielded three runs and 10 hits in 7 1/3 frames.

Gray is coming off his first rocky major-league outing as he was pounded for six runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of a loss to Baltimore. He allowed just four runs and 10 hits over 21 frames in his first three starts. Even with the rough performance, Gray is limiting opposing batters to a .194 average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland has scored 38 runs over its last five games.

2. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist made a throwing error on Friday to snap a team-record 81-game errorless streak.

3. Lowrie is 4-for-4 against Cobb, while 3B Alberto Callaspo is hitless in 10 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Athletics 2