Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2018 ) Oakland 7, LA Angels 0

The Oakland Athletics used power and pitching to even their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels and hope for more of the same in the rubber match on Sunday. Oakland posted a 7-0 victory on Saturday as it belted three home runs while Edwin Jackson combined with two relievers on a five-hitter.

Marcus Semien went 3-for-5 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored while Khris Davis continued his assault with his fifth blast in six contests and 13th in 18 games as the Athletics, who occupy the second wild-card spot in the American League, climbed within 3 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the AL West. Matt Chapman enters the series finale with a nine-game hitting streak after going 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's triumph. Albert Pujols recorded one of Los Angeles' five hits Saturday, a day after notching his 1,000th with the club to become the ninth player in history to hit the plateau in both leagues. The Angels had their four-game winning streak halted and were shut out for the second time in their last three setbacks as backup catcher Francisco Arcia became the first position player to pitch for the club since Chili Davis in 1993, allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (4-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. Angels RH Taylor Cole (0-2, 1.59)

Cahill has won three consecutive starts and gone unbeaten in eight straight after registering 10 strikeouts and scattering three hits over six scoreless innings against Detroit last Sunday. However, the 30-year-old Californian has had issues on the road, where he has posted a 6.44 ERA as opposed to a 0.99 mark at home. Cahill has fared well against the Angels in his career, going 5-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance.

Cole will make his first major-league start after beginning his career with nine relief appearances - eight this season. The 28-year-old, who also hails from the Golden State, has produced three straight scoreless outings - a stretch that includes an effort of a career-high 3 2/3 innings at Cleveland last Sunday. Cole also has come out of the bullpen 32 times for Triple-A Salt Lake this year, going 3-0 with six saves and a 5.16 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Davis is six blasts away from joining Jimmie Foxx (1932-34) as the only players in franchise history to record three consecutive 40-homer seasons.

2. Los Angeles optioned RHP Akeel Morris to Salt Lake to make room on the roster for LHP Tyler Skaggs (adductor), who yielded seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday after being activated from the 10-day disabled list.

3. Semien had gone 12 games without an RBI and 43 without a home run prior to Saturday's outburst.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Angels 2