Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2019 ) LA Angels 6, Oakland 10

The Oakland Athletics have not dropped back-to-back games in three weeks and don't plan on doing so again as they try to lock up the top wild card spot in the American League. The Athletics saw their latest winning streak come to an end with an 8-3 loss in the home finale on Sunday but will try to get right back on top when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday.

Oakland went 15-4 over the last 19 contests to open up a 1 1/2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the top AL wild card spot, and will not play another game against a team with a winning record as it ends the regular season with four at Seattle - starting Thursday. The Athletics, who finished 52-29 at home (52-27 at the Oakland Coliseum), are on track to host the wild card game and would like to wrap things up over the next couple of contests in order to set the pitching for that one-game playoff. The Angels are coming to the end of another disappointing season and fell to 5-14 over their last 19 games after dropping the finale of a three-game set at Houston on Sunday to mark their fourth consecutive series loss. Veteran Homer Bailey will take the mound for Oakland on Tuesday while Los Angeles will let lefty Dillon Peters try to prove he belongs in the team's 2020 rotation plans.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Homer Bailey (13-8, 4.55 ERA) vs. Angels LH Dillon Peters (3-3, 4.81)

Bailey is surging down the stretch and is coming off one of his best outings of the season after holding the Kansas City Royals to three hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Texan is 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts with 45 strikeouts in 43 innings over that span. Bailey faced Los Angeles as a member of the Royals on April 28 and absorbed a loss while allowing four runs and six hits over six innings.

Peters is winless in his last six appearances and did not stick around long enough to qualify for a win when he allowed two runs and five hits over four innings at the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The 27-year-old was held to 65 or fewer pitches in each of his last two outings as the Angels take a long look at several arms down the stretch. Peters is seeing Oakland for the first time in his career and is 2-1 with a 4.73 in seven games - four starts - at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics RHP Frankie Montas is eligible to return Wednesday after serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

2. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 on Sunday and is in danger of dropping his career batting average below .300.

3. Oakland SS Marcus Semien (120) is three runs scored away from tying the franchise record set by Reggie Jackson in 1969.

PREDICTION: Athletics 10, Angels 2