Oakland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2019 ) Oakland 2, LA Angels 3

The Oakland Athletics' grip on an American League wild-card spot has gotten dangerously loose after back-to-back losses. Oakland attempts to tighten its hold when it visits the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday for the finale of their two-game series.

The Athletics were in good position to host the wild-card game next week after winning 10 of 11 contests - a stretch during which they allowed four runs during a four-game winning streak, which ended with an 8-3 loss to Texas on Sunday in their regular-season home finale. Tuesday's 3-2 setback against Los Angeles reduced Oakland's lead for the top wild card to one-half game over Tampa Bay and one over Cleveland with five remaining. Khris Davis belted a two-run homer and finished with two of the six hits recorded by the Athletics while Marcus Semien singled to extend his hitting streak to five games. David Fletcher went 3-for-4 with an RBI single that ignited a three-run fifth inning on Tuesday for the Angels, who kicked off their season-ending six-game homestand.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.70 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (4-6, 5.10)

Montas is expected to be reinstated after serving an 80-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs and make his 16th start of the season. The 26-year-old Dominican last pitched on June 20, when he settled for a no-decision against Tampa Bay despite allowing just one run and four hits over eight innings. Montas is 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three turns versus Los Angeles this campaign after giving up one run over 5 1/3 frames in three relief appearances prior to 2019.

After allowing fewer than three runs in five of his previous six starts and three in the other, Heaney has yielded at least four in each of his four turns this month. The 28-year-old Oklahoman has been tagged for six runs in both of his last two outings, including a loss to the Yankees at New York on Thursday in which he gave up five hits and three walks over five innings. Heaney is 2-2 with a 4.36 ERA in five career starts against Oakland, including a home loss on June 30 in which he surrendered five runs over six frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Semien has gone 9-for-21 during his streak and hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests.

2. Los Angeles claimed 2B Kean Wong, who went 3-for-14 over six games this season - his first in the major leagues, off waivers from Tampa Bay.

3. Oakland manager Bob Melvin announced RHPs Lou Trivino (rib) and Blake Treinen (back/hip) will not pitch again this year.

PREDICTION: Athletics 8, Angels 4