Minnesota @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2018 ) Minnesota 2, Oakland 3

The Oakland Athletics have posted back-to-back walk-off wins in completely different ways and can walk off to the postseason on Sunday, when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in their final home contest of the season. Oakland won the series opener on a 10th-inning leadoff homer by Khris Davis and recorded a 3-2 triumph on Saturday as Stephen Piscotty opened the ninth with a double and scored on a two-out wild pitch.

The victory was the fourth in a row for the Athletics, who can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday with a win over the Twins or a loss by Tampa Bay in Toronto. Oakland owns a 7 1/2-game lead over the Rays for the second wild card in the American League and trails the New York Yankees by 1 1/2 for the first spot while sitting 3 1/2 behind Houston for first place in the AL West with seven games remaining. Marcus Semien has been swinging a hot bat for the Athletics as he is 5-for-12 with eight RBIs over his last three games after belting a two-run homer on Saturday. Willians Astudillo went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Minnesota, which looks to conclude its final road trip of 2018 with a 5-5 record.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (8-13, 3.78 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (6-3, 3.77)

Gibson managed to halt his four-start losing streak last Sunday at Kansas City despite surrendering five runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old native of Indiana did not walk a batter, however, marking the first time in 11 turns - and second in 30 outings this season - he didn't issue a free pass. Gibson is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics but will be facing them for the first time this year.

Cahill has lost just one of his last 14 turns but will be making his first start since Sept. 9 due to discomfort in his upper back. The 30-year-old Californian lasted only 2 2/3 innings in that outing against Texas as he yielded three runs on two hits and six walks - the second time in three turns he issued a half-dozen free passes - but escaped with a no-decision. Cahill's lone setback in his last 14 outings came on Aug. 23 in Minnesota, where he was tagged for five runs and eight hits over five frames to fall to 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) versus the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Twins suffered their 15th walk-off loss of the year on Saturday, matching the club record that was set in 1964.

2. Oakland went 13-0-2 in its final 15 home series of 2018 - the club's longest such unbeaten streak since a 17-0-2 run in 1931.

3. Minnesota transferred RHP Ervin Santana (finger) to the 60-day disabled list on Saturday and purchased the contract of C Juan Graterol from Triple-A Rochester.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Twins 2