Toronto @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2018 ) Oakland 9, Toronto 2

The Oakland Athletics declared themselves buyers and ripped off a 27-7 stretch bridging the All-Star break but failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity over the weekend. The Athletics will try to snap out of a rare slide and move up in the standings when they return home to host the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Oakland could have cut three games off its deficit in the American League West but instead enters the week six games behind the struggling first-place Astros after totaling four runs in three straight losses at Colorado over the weekend. "You're going to lose a series, but we don't want to get swept," Athletics manager Bob Melvin told reporters. "Now we have a chance to go back home and gain some ground again. We get an extended stay at home, we've been on the road for quite a bit, and it's time for us to start playing really well at home. If we do that, then we forget about this series." The Blue Jays took two of three at the Chicago White Sox to begin their 10-game road trip but figure to be sellers over the next two days in advance of the trade deadline. Toronto will send veteran Marco Estrada to the mound on Monday while Oakland tries to bounce back behind right-hander Edwin Jackson.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (4-7, 4.72 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Edwin Jackson (1-2, 3.86)

Estrada is set to return after missing the last four weeks with a strained glute, just in time to get in one more start in front of opposing scouts. The veteran trade candidate left his only rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on July 24 with a blister but is not expected to have a problem making the outing on Monday. Estrada turned in a quality start at home against Oakland on May 18 but was saddled with a loss while allowing three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Jackson is winless in July and is coming off his worst outing since joining the Athletics last month. The well-traveled veteran was reached for season highs of five runs and seven hits in a season-low 4 1/3 frames at Texas on Wednesday but escaped without factoring in the decision. Jackson, who is playing for his 14th team, is 4-3 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 career games - 14 starts - against the Blue Jays, most of which came when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006-2008.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics OF Khris Davis recorded seven home runs in his last eight games.

2. Toronto 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has recorded multiple hits in each of his last 11 games, was removed from Sunday's game with a knee contusion and sprained ankle.

3. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman is 17-for-36 over the last nine contests.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Blue Jays 4