Tampa Bay @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2013 ) Oakland 1, Tampa Bay 8

The Tampa Bay Rays embark on a critical 10-game West Coast trip after dropping four of their last five games. The Rays send reigning American League Cy Young Award winner David Price to the mound in the opener of their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The Athletics, like the Rays, have hold of one of the two AL wild-card spots and must rebound after giving up four runs in the ninth inning and dropping a 7-6 decision at Detroit on Thursday.

Oakland scored 34 runs as it won three of four at Detroit and but sits three games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. Brandon Moss looks to continue his hot streak during which he has hit four home runs in the Athletics' last three games. Evan Longoria (0-for-15) and rookie Wil Myers (0-for-19) must turn it around in the middle of the order for the Rays, who trail Boston by 2 1/2 games in the AL East.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (8-5, 3.28) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (10-6, 3.58 ERA)

Price had to battle in his last two starts to win his fourth and fifth straight decisions, allowing four runs over 11 innings, and was pushed back a day to face Oakland. The left-hander gave up two or fewer runs in nine of 11 starts since July 1, boasting a 1.97 ERA in that span. Alberto Callaspo is 6-for-15 against Price, who is 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA in six career starts versus the Athletics.

Parker is 8-0 during his 16-start unbeaten streak and has allowed three or fewer runs in 18 of his last 19 outings. The 24-year-old yielded one run over 6 1/3 innings of a 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay on April 20 and is 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Rays. Ben Zobrist is 3-for-9 with a homer against Parker, who has surrendered 13 blasts on the road and six at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay swept a three-game home series against Oakland in April, outscoring the Athletics 17-4.

2. Oakland RHP Grant Balfour, who pitched for the Rays from 2007-10, blew only his second save in 35 opportunities Thursday at Detroit.

3. Rays OF Matt Joyce, who homered off Parker in April, is 20-for-54 with three blasts and 10 RBIs in August.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Athletics 2