Minnesota @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2018 ) Oakland 6, Minnesota 2

The Oakland Athletics have not lost a home series in more than three months and continue their drive to nail down a playoff spot when they host the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. The Athletics have a magic number of four to secure a wild-card berth and trail first-place Houston by 3 1/2 games in the American League West.

Oakland rebounded from a three-game slide to take its last two contests against the Los Angeles Angels, outscoring them 31-3. Red-hot Stephen Piscotty belted his second three-run homer in as many days in Thursday's 21-3 mauling and was 4-for-6 with nine RBIs in the two wins as the Athletics improved to a major league-best 58-25 record since June 15. “Our lineup is deep all the way through and we feel like we have a chance to score every inning,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the Athletics had eight players score at least two runs for the first time since 1929. Minnesota enters the final leg of its 10-game road trip on a roll, winning four in a row and outscoring its opponents 28-12.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH José Berríos (11-11, 3.81 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Liam Hendriks (0-1, 5.30)

Berrios' winless drought reached seven starts last time out despite striking out nine and limiting Kansas City to two runs and five hits over six innings. He also faced the Royals in his previous turn, losing his third straight start despite allowing one run and three hits over six innings. Piscotty is 2-for-2 against Berrios, who gave up three runs over five innings of a loss to Oakland on Aug. 26.

Hendriks will continue his role of Oakland's late season "opener" by getting the nod for the seventh time this month, although he has pitched just one inning in each of his past five appearances in that role. In his last six trips to the mound overall, including one relief appearance, he has not allowed a run and permitted only two hits. Trout and Andrelton Simmons are each 3-for-8 against Hendriks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Piscotty has seven homers and 22 RBIs in in September.

2. Twins INF Ehire Adrianza is 6-for-17 during four-game hitting and RBI streaks.

3. The Athletics are 12-0-2 in their last 14 home series since they were swept by Houston from June 12-14.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Twins 4