Philadelphia @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2011 ) Oakland 1, Philadelphia 3

The Oakland Athletics dropped like a stone out of the top spot in the American League West and just surrendered the top wild card spot. The Athletics will try to avoid a 16th loss in 21 games when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Oakland was outscored 19-6 while being swept by the major league-worst Texas Rangers in three games this week and sits just one game ahead of Seattle for the second wild card.

The Phillies are not coming in with much momentum and have dropped four of their last five. Philadelphia began its road trip by losing three of four in San Diego and is three games behind the New York Mets in the battle to avoid last place in the National League East. The Athletics still have three more games against the major league-best Los Angeles Angels and four at Texas to finish the regular season, and the offense has scored more than three runs once – a 4-0 victory at Seattle – in the last eight games.

TV: 9:35 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH David Buchanan (6-7, 3.75 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Jon Lester (15-10, 2.45)

Buchanan has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 13 starts but is winless in his last six turns. The 25-year-old held Pittsburgh to three runs – two earned – on four hits and three walks in six innings in his last outing on Sep. 9 but did not factor in the decision. Buchanan’s last win came against an AL West team on Aug. 6, when he held the Houston Astros to three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Lester has been immune to the rest of the team’s struggles and is 5-3 with a 2.30 ERA in nine starts since joining the team at the trade deadline. The free agent to-be allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last five turns and struck out seven over six scoreless frames at Seattle on Sunday to earn a win. Lester is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 27 innings across four career starts against Philadelphia.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics C/OF Stephen Vogt (ankle) will run the bases on Friday but is not ready to play.

2. Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins (hamstring) has been out since Sept. 8 but took batting and infield practice in San Diego.

3. Oakland has lost seven of its last eight at home.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Phillies 2