Oakland @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Oakland 5, Tampa Bay 7

The Oakland Athletics are in good shape in regard to guaranteeing themselves a playoff spot in the near future, but they have run into a bit of trouble lately in their quest to win the American League West or secure home-field advantage in the wild-card game. The Athletics try to make some progress on both fronts Sunday, when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays for the rubber match of their three-game series.

Oakland (90-59) used a six-game winning streak to crawl within one game of the New York Yankees for the first wild card earlier this week, but the pursuit has stalled recently with losses in two of its last three games. The Athletics were unable to take advantage of a loss by the Yankees and remained 1 1/2 games behind them in the wild-card race following Saturday's 7-5 setback in Tampa Bay while also falling 3 1/2 games behind Houston in the West. Struggling rookie Jake Bauers enjoyed one of the best offensive performances of his brief career, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs - including a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning - to send the Rays to their sixth win on a nine-game homestand that ends Sunday. Tampa Bay (81-66) trails the Athletics by eight games in the wild-card race with 15 left but has won 14 of its last 16 home contests.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (12-6, 3.29 ERA) vs. Rays RH Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.31)

Fiers is riding a six-game winning streak and remained unbeaten since July 13 with Tuesday's dominant effort in Baltimore, allowing only one run on a solo homer while striking out seven over six innings. The Nova Southeastern product has yielded fewer than three runs in six of his seven starts since being acquired from Detroit on Aug. 6, holding opponents to a .208 batting average in that span. C.J. Cron is 3-for-15 with two homers versus Fiers, who is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay.

Castillo will "open" for the second time in as many days and eighth this season after striking out four over two perfect innings on Saturday. The 24-year-old rookie has been stellar through five games this month, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in 8 1/3 frames while holding opponents to a .115 average. Castillo has held the opposition scoreless in three of his last four outings and 12 of 15 since the beginning of August.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays clinched the season series with Saturday's triumph and have won eight of 12 meetings since the start of last season.

2. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman, who hit his 23rd homer on Saturday, leads the majors in doubles (23) and extra-base hits (39) since the All-Star break.

3. Tampa Bay needs one more victory to secure its first winning season since 2013.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Rays 2