Oakland @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2017 ) Minnesota 5, Oakland 6

Despite a loss to the lowly Texas Rangers on Wednesday, the Oakland Athletics will take a seven series unbeaten streak into the opener of a four-game set at the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Oakland's seven-game trek will be capped with a visit to the Houston Astros, who hold a one-game lead over the Athletics in the American League West.

Wednesday's 4-2 setback to the Rangers wrapped up a 6-3 homestand for Oakland, which lost for only the fifth time in the past 20 games. After posting consecutive shutout wins in the first two games against Texas, Oakland managed only four hits in the series finale, including RBI doubles by Stephen Piscotty and Jed Lowrie. While the Athletics are 6-0-1 in their last seven series, the Twins also fell to 6-3 in their last nine after dropping the back end of a two-game set to the Chicago White Sox. Logan Forsythe collected three hits in Wednesday's 7-3 defeat and is batting .377 (26-for-69) in 19 games since he was acquired by Minnesota.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (5-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kohl Stewart (0-1, 7.71)

Cahill is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, limiting defending World Series champion Houston to one hit over seven scoreless innings on Saturday. The 30-year-old improved to 4-0 in his last five starts and remains unbeaten over his last 10 turns dating to a loss at Boston on May 16. Cahill is 4-0 with an 0.85 ERA at home, but only 1-2 with a 6.62 ERA in seven road starts.

Stewart has not looked ready for the bright lights in his first two major-league starts, both coming against the Detroit Tigers. After allowing three runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings in his debut, he lasted 2 2/3 innings in the rematch, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks. "You just can't fall behind guys like that, can't walk guys," Stewart said. "It was not acceptable."

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 1B/DH Joe Mauer needs one hit to tie Hall of Famer Rod Carew (2,085) for second place on the franchise list

2. Athletics DH Khris Davis, who needs two homers for his third straight 40-homer season, is 12-for-55 versus Minnesota.

3. Twins RH Oliver Drake has notched seven straight scoreless appearances since joining the team.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Twins 3