San Diego @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2018 ) Oakland 12, San Diego 4

The Oakland Athletics had a six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday but remain one of the pleasant surprises of the first half of the season. The Athletics will try to get back into the win column and keep the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in sight in the American League West when they host the San Diego Padres in the opener of a two-game interleague series on Tuesday.

Oakland enters the week eight games behind second-place Seattle in the AL West and is staring at a rough schedule heading into the All-Star break, with 11 straight on the road - including trips to Cleveland and Houston - after finishing up with the Padres. The Athletics took the first two from the Indians at home over the weekend but witnessed a rare letdown from the pitching staff in a 15-3 setback on Sunday. San Diego is sitting in last place in the National League West and was outscored 16-6 in dropping two to Oakland at home on June 19 and 20. The Padres are trying to snap a streak of six straight series losses and will send lefty Clayton Richard to the mound on Tuesday opposite Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-7, 4.29 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (1-3, 2.82)

Richard had a streak of four straight wins come to an end at Texas on Wednesday, when he was reached for four runs and 10 hits in seven innings. The 34-year-old worked at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts and went at least seven frames in seven of those outings. Wednesday's loss dropped Richard to 9-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 23 career interleague games - 18 starts.

Bassitt earned his first win since rejoining the rotation when he held the Detroit Tigers scoreless while scattering two hits and five walks over six innings on Wednesday. The five walks marked a season high for the Ohio native, who issued a total of three walks over 16 1/3 innings in his first three outings. Bassitt is seeing the Padres for the first time and is 0-2 with a 2.45 ERA in two career interleague outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics RHP Trevor Cahill (Achilles) is scheduled to throw at the team's spring training home in Arizona on Tuesday.

2. San Diego CF and leadoff hitter Manuel Margot is 1-for-17 over his last four games, dropping his batting average to .235.

3. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman (hand) made a rehab start for High Class A Stockton on Monday and could return to the majors as soon as Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Padres 6, Athletics 2